On 25 June 2024, Payman crossed the floor to support a Greens resolution to recognise a Palestinian state, leading to her being indefinitely suspended from the Labor caucus.

He then worked as a security guard, kitchen hand and taxi driver, so he could afford to sponsor the migration of his wife and four children.

[9] She attended the University of Western Australia, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology and a Graduate Diploma of Pharmaceutical Science.

[10] Payman was third on the Labor Party's ticket for the Senate at the 2022 Australian federal election and was not expected to win a seat.

The 1992 High Court ruling Sykes v Cleary in regards to Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia determined that a political candidate must take "all reasonable steps" to renounce other citizenships.

The Labor Party received legal advice that Payman was nevertheless still eligible to be elected, deeming that she had taken "all reasonable steps" to renounce her Afghan citizenship.

[7] She has said her priorities include "getting more people from diverse backgrounds involved in politics, improving early childhood education, and climate change".

Prime Minister and Labor Leader Anthony Albanese stated Payman could return if she "respect[ed] the caucus and members".

[30] On 3 July 2024, the Leichhardt branch of the Labor Party, which is within Albanese's electorate of Grayndler, passed a motion supporting Payman.

[31] Former Labor politician Harry Quick, who was expelled from the party after crossing the floor in 2007, stated his admiration for Payman and urged her to not "bend or waver".

[33] Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley stated that Payman crossing the floor was a sign of Anthony Albanese's "weak leadership".

[30] Labor MP Anne Aly, who had often disagreed with party positions regarding the Gaza conflict, said in an interview that she did not agree with Payman's approach.

Referring to Payman's abstention on Labor's proposed amendment to a Greens motion calling for recognition of a Palestinian state, Aly said "I choose to do things in a way I think will make a material difference on the ground to people in Palestine.

[39] The group's treasurer and vice-president had quit the Labor Party on 4 July "in protest" against the treatment of Fatima Payman.

[41] In September 2024, Payman delivered a two-minute critique of government failure to accommodate young voters, who she believed feel "disenfranchised" by the two major parties.

Payman used colloquialisms such as sigmas, goofy ahh, Ohio, gyatt, fanum tax, aura, capping/yapping, and skibidi.

Payman rejected this and suggested her new party could run a candidate in Albanese's electorate of Grayndler at the next federal election.

[49] Hanson moved a proposal for there to be an investigation into Payman's eligibility for the Senate, claiming issues with her Afghan citizenship.