The controversy created by Senator Fatima Payman’s exit from federal Labor points to the crisis of the two-party parliamentary system.

Payman is a young, former Afghan refugee. She is also a former union organiser. For several months she has been publicly outspoken about Labor needing to do more to defend Palestine.

She was bullied out.

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Her “crime” was to break Labor caucus solidarity by crossing the floor to vote with the Greens over — wait for it — a Labor policy position that would have recognised a Palestinian state.

The outrage that has erupted since her decision has included a large amount of Islamophobic attacks.

Labor, the corporate media and the Coalition have fallen over themselves to abuse her.

Payman has been described as a turncoat, a religious zealot and even a non-Australian, motivated by greed.

Roger Cook, Premier of Western Australia, outdid........

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