Muslim Australian MP Claims She Faced Pressure to Drink and Dance at Event

Australian Senator Fatima Payman has lodged a formal complaint with a parliamentary oversight body after a male colleague allegedly encouraged her to drink alcohol and "dance on the table" during an official event.

Payman, who is Muslim and abstains from alcohol, told ABC News that the incident occurred when the older male colleague had "too many drinks" and made inappropriate comments.

“He said, ‘Let’s get some wine into you and see you dance on the table,’” the 30-year-old senator recalled.

Payman responded by setting a clear boundary. “I told this colleague, ‘Hey, I’m drawing a line, mate,’” she said, adding that she then proceeded with filing a formal complaint.

Details about the timing of the incident or the identity of the male colleague have not been disclosed.

Born in Afghanistan, Payman made history as the first hijab-wearing senator in the Australian parliament, according to local media reports.

Her complaint comes in the wake of broader scrutiny over workplace culture in Australia’s parliament. In 2021, former political staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was sexually assaulted by a colleague in a parliamentary office, sparking nationwide protests.

A subsequent investigation revealed a toxic environment within parliament, characterized by excessive alcohol use, bullying, and sexual harassment.

Senator Payman became an independent in 2024, parting ways with the Labor Party over what she described as the government’s inaction on the crisis in Gaza. – AFP