Payman asks if PM is waiting for an attack on her, sparking committee rebuke

Senator refuses to withdraw comment about Helen Haines attack; chair to refer matter to Senate president

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Updated27 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources4 outlets

Independent WA Senator Fatima Payman stunned a parliamentary committee hearing late Monday by asking whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was waiting for a Helen Haines-style attack on her before granting additional staff. She refused to withdraw the comment, drawing immediate rebukes from Special Minister of State Don Farrell and committee chair Senator Karen Grogan.

The exchange occurred on the same day many MPs paid tribute to independent MP Helen Haines, who last week had both legs amputated after being rammed by a four-wheel-drive outside her office. The attack has prompted calls for a less hostile political culture.

Payman has been seeking two additional adviser-level staff for nearly two years, saying her office cannot cope with the demands of representing an entire state. She pointed out that other senators who left their parties, including Lidia Thorpe and Tammy Tyrrell, received extra personal staffing. Greens leader Larissa Waters and her successor David Shoebridge also had their requests met quickly.

The senator has been the target of repeated threats. Last week, a Queensland Bunnings worker pleaded guilty to six charges of using a carriage service to menace or harass her, including a call in March where he hoped she would be run over by a truck. In November last year, a Ballarat man pleaded guilty to threatening her by email, writing that there was a bullet with her name on it. Her office estimates it has referred more than 100 incidents to the Australian Federal Police.

At the hearing, Payman asked Farrell why she had not received the same treatment as other defectors. 'Has the prime minister refused to make a decision on my request because, unlike all the other defectors, I defected from the Labor Party? Am I being made an example of?' she said.

When Farrell said he would raise the matter again with Albanese, Payman responded: 'Is the prime minister waiting for something like what happened to Dr Helen Haines to occur to my office, to me, for him to take our request seriously?'

Farrell called the comment 'outrageous,' and Grogan told Payman to 'think about those kind of accusations.' Payman refused to withdraw, saying she would do so only if Albanese granted the staff. Grogan replied that she would raise the matter with Senate President Sue Lines.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has also been campaigning for additional staff, arguing the allocation to her party does not reflect its six seats. Hanson and Payman recently joined forces to campaign for more equitable staffing across parliament.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

Payman's case raises questions about whether independents who leave major parties are being treated fairly in staffing allocations, affecting their ability to perform their duties.
The heated exchange takes place against a backdrop of escalating threats against politicians and follows the severe attack on Helen Haines, highlighting the pressures faced by elected officials.
How the government responds could set a precedent for staffing support for crossbench MPs and influence the balance of parliamentary resources.

Background

The power to allocate additional staff to non-government parties and independents rests with the Prime Minister. Most independents receive one or two adviser-level staff on top of standard electorate officers. Payman left the Labor Party in 2024 and has since argued she is entitled to the same support as other defectors. The recent attack on Haines, who suffered life-threatening injuries, has intensified scrutiny of political safety and the resources available to independent members.

Key Perspectives

Senator Fatima Payman: believes she has been treated unfairly because she defected from Labor, has waited 23 months for staff parity, and fears only a serious incident will prompt action. Special Minister of State Don Farrell: described the suggestion that the Prime Minister would wait for an attack as “outrageous” and “absolutely not the case.” Committee chair Senator Karen Grogan: said the comments were unparliamentary and referred the matter to the Senate President; she urged Payman to be better. Pauline Hanson (One Nation): has argued that staff allocations to her party are insufficient for its six seats and has joined Payman in calling for reform.

What to Watch

Whether Senate President Sue Lines rules on whether Payman’s language breached parliamentary standing orders.
Whether Prime Minister Albanese makes a statement on the staffing request or the broader controversy.
Whether the crossbench unites to demand a review of the allocation process.

Sources

Payman asks if PM is ‘waiting for what happened to Helen Haines’ to occur again – video · The Guardian
‘Outrageous’: Payman asks if PM is waiting for attack on her in bitter staff feud · Brisbane Times
‘Outrageous’: Payman asks if PM is waiting for attack on her in bitter staff feud · The Sydney Morning Herald
‘Outrageous’: Payman asks if PM is waiting for attack on her in bitter staff feud · WAtoday

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe headline says Payman asked whether the prime minister was waiting for an attack on her and that this sparked a committee rebuke.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Independent WA senator Fatima Payman has stunned a parliamentary committee hearing by asking if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was waiting for a Helen Haines-style attack on her before finally granting the senator additional staff.”
Partly supportedThe summary says Payman refused to withdraw the comment and the chair would refer the matter to the Senate president.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Grogan said the comments were unparliamentary and that she would be “delighted” to raise it with Senate president Sue Lines.”
SupportedPayman asked whether Albanese was waiting for a Haines-style attack before granting her additional staff.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Payman has stunned a parliamentary committee hearing by asking if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was waiting for a Helen Haines-style attack on her before finally granting the senator additional staff .”
SupportedPayman asked: “Has the prime minister refused to make a decision on my request because, unlike all the other defectors, I defected from the Labor Party? Am I being made an example of?”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Has the prime minister refused to make a decision on my request because, unlike all the other defectors, I defected from the Labor Party? Am I being made an example of?” Payman asked.”
SupportedPayman asked: “Is the prime minister waiting for something like what happened to Dr Helen Haines to occur to my office, to me, for him to take our request seriously?”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““And is the prime minister waiting for something like what happened to Dr Helen Haines to occur to my office, to me, for him to take our request seriously?””
Partly supportedFarrell called the comment “outrageous,” and Grogan told Payman to “think about those kind of accusations.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I personally think that’s an outrageous suggestion, Senator Payman,” Farrell said. ... Grogan then interrupted and suggested that Payman take a moment “to think about those kind of accusations””
Partly supportedPayman’s comment prompted calls for a less hostile political culture.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “On the same day when MPs lined up to deliver tributes to Haines, who last week had both her legs amputated after she was rammed by a four-wheel-drive outside her office, many politicians called for the temperature to be turned down on political debate.”
Partly supportedPayman had sought two additional adviser-level staff for nearly two years to cope with the demands of representing an entire state.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Payman ... has been asking for nearly two years for Albanese to allocate her two additional “adviser” level staff ... to cope with the demands of being an independent representative.”
SupportedThorpe and Tyrrell received extra personal staffing after leaving their parties, and Waters and Shoebridge had their extra-staff requests met quickly.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Payman asked Farrell a series of questions about the allocation of extra staff to independent MPs, including why independent MP Nicolette Boele and Greens leaders Larissa Waters – and then David Shoebridge – all had their requests for extra staff met while she did not.”
Partly supportedA Queensland Bunnings worker pleaded guilty to six charges of using a carriage service to menace or harass Payman, including a March call in which he hoped she would be run over by a truck.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Last Thursday, a Queensland Bunnings worker pleaded guilty to six counts of using a carriage service to menace or harass Payman, including a phone call in March where he hoped the senator would be run over by a truck.”
SupportedA Ballarat man pleaded guilty in November last year to threatening Payman by email, writing that there was a bullet with her name on it.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Last November, a Ballarat man pleaded guilty to threatening the senator by email, writing that there was a bullet with her name on it.”
SupportedPayman’s office estimates it referred more than 100 incidents to the Australian Federal Police.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Payman’s office estimates it has referred over 100 incidents to Australian Federal Police.”