Muslim Australian lawmaker says she was urged to drink dance on table

SYDNEY - A Muslim lawmaker in Australia said on May 28 that she has complained to a parliamentary watchdog after a male colleague allegedly urged her to drink wine and “dance on the table”.

Senator Fatima Payman – who said she does not drink alcohol – claimed the older colleague made a series of inappropriate remarks after he “had too many drinks” at an official function.

He said: “Let’s get some wine into you and see you dance on the table,” Ms Payman, 30, told national broadcaster ABC.

“I told this colleague, ‘Hey I’m drawing a line mate’, and moved on to making a formal complaint,” she said.

It was not clear when the alleged incident occurred or who the colleague was.

Born in Afghanistan, Ms Payman is the first senator to wear a hijab inside Australia’s parliament, according to local media.

Former political staffer Brittany Higgins in 2021 alleged she was raped by a colleague inside a parliamentary office, triggering protests across the country.

A scathing review later found Australia’s parliament was rife with heavy drinking, bullying and sexual harassment.

Independent Senator Payman split from the left-leaning Labor government in 2024 after accusing it of failing to help Palestinians in Gaza. AFP

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