Opinion

Chief political commentator October 29, 2026 — 6:09pm

October 29, 2026 — 6:09pm

Fatima Payman overstepped the mark, big time, on Monday night while quizzing Special Minister of State Don Farrell about staffing allocations. In a moment of fury, madness or brain fade, the WA senator linked her lack of staff to the attack on fellow MP Helen Haines, asking whether it would take a similar tragedy before she received the same staffing allocation that other senators and members on the crossbench enjoy.

After refusing to withdraw her unparliamentary remark, Payman apologised to Haines a couple of days later. It was a stunningly inappropriate comparison to make. But the fact she overstepped doesn’t mean she was wrong.

Allies on the unfairness of staff allocations: One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and the Labor defector and independent senator Fatima Payman. Alex Ellinghausen

It’s not just Payman who is suffering. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has similar staffing issues.…