Anthony Albanese said Fatima Payman disrupted the government’s messages around cost of living relief by conducting an interview to declare she would cross the floor again to vote in support of Palestinian statehood.
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Yeah, the Labor party has a rule that you have to vote with the party. It’s insane and she’s the one person willing to standup to their genocidal policy
Yeah that’s correct. Our system isn’t as strongly two-party as the US, and it’s getting less and less so over time, but for most of the last 80 years it’s been two-party between Labor and the Liberal/National coalition. Labor being our equivalent of America’s Democrats, and the Liberal-Nationals the Republicans.
But unlike America, party discipline in Australia tends to be very strong. Voting across party lines is very rare, especially in Labor.
Welcome to the parliamentary party system. There are some votes you can avoid the party line with, but if the whip declares it a party vote, it’s a party vote and you won’t get your party endorsement for the next election if you step out of line.
Once FPTP voting is done and there’s a majority, it’s pretty much a party dictatorship after that. Caucus decides what legislation will be enacted, and the caucus/cabinet is chosen by the leader. Any debate in the legislature is purely for show, and sometimes they’ll take suggestions/amendments from the floor, but usually not.
It’s another stupid system that barely beats a monarchy.
