# Fatima Payman reveals how she was ghosted by Anthony Albanese amid bitter fallout from her leaving Labor and dispute over staffing levels

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/fatima-payman-reveals-how-she-was-ghosted-by-anthony-albanese-amid-bitter-fallout-from-her-leaving-labor-and-dispute-over-staffing-levels/
- Published: 2026-11-09T12:46:12+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T13:03:42+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16276667/fatima-payman-anthony-albanese-staffing.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Government, Paranormal, Politics, Weird & Viral, World

## Key points

- Payman says Albanese did not reply to her thank-you message.
- She alleges extra staff were linked to backing or abstaining on Labor votes.
- Albanese says she has one more staff member than when elected.

## Summary

Independent Senator Fatima Payman says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ignored a message thanking him for the government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state. The episode highlights the strained relationship after she left Labor in 2024 over its position on Gaza, and comes amid her continuing dispute with the government over staffing for her office.

Payman says she remains the only independent federal politician without adviser-level staff, and alleges offers of extra staff were linked to supporting or abstaining on Labor votes, which she declined. Albanese has said she has the same number of staff as when elected, plus one additional staffer provided to all parliamentarians. Payman also apologised after invoking an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines while arguing for more support, but maintained that her office’s workload affects staff wellbeing.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.