Australian Leaders Raise Concerns About Sectarian Voting Groups

As the defection of Muslim Senator Fatima Payman ignites a debate about parties representing different faiths, the prime minister cautions against it.

Protestors chant and wave the Palestinian flag at a Pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 10, 2023. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Senator Fatima Payman’s resignation from the Labor Party has ignited debate about the capacity of political parties to represent people of different faiths, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton offering similar opinions on the issue, but expressing them differently.

Mr. Albanese emphasised that Labor was inclusive of all faiths, and that any move towards faith-based politics risked damaging national unity.