How I vote
I believe in good policy, not party politics. Every bill deserves to be judged on its own merits, and I vote according to what will improve people’s lives. Unlike members of the major parties, I am never told how to vote.
My independence allows me to collaborate when it leads to better outcomes, and to stand firm when a proposal does not serve our community. Progress comes from cooperation, not division, and my focus will always be on creating laws that make a real difference.
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Release Attorney-General documents on development of Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bills
Voted to require the Government to release Attorney-General documents on the development of the Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism legislation
Senator Payman’s motion requiring the Attorney-General to table all communications between her office and the Attorney-General’s Department created between 14 December 2025 and 20 January 2026 relating to the development of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 and its related Acts, by 5 pm on 23 April 2026. The Senate agreed 33 to 22.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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Release TGA documents on WHO collaborating centre affiliations
Voted against requiring the Government to release documents on the TGA’s World Health Organization collaborating centre affiliations
Senator Antic’s motion requiring the Minister for Health to table documents relating to the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s WHO collaborating centre designations, including terms of reference, correspondence, and any internal advice on the implications for TGA independence and Australian sovereignty in medicines regulation. The motion was defeated 35 to 22.
- My vote
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No
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Require Housing Minister to attend the Senate to explain failure to comply with document order
Voted to require the Housing Minister to attend the Senate and explain why a document order on the Home Guarantee Scheme has not been complied with
Senator Bragg’s motion noting the Government had still not complied with an order for documents on the Home Guarantee Scheme and requiring the Minister representing the Minister for Housing to attend the Senate on 25 March 2026 to provide a further explanation of the failure to comply. The motion passed 37 to 20.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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Require Minister for Education to comply with forestry document order
Voted against requiring the Minister for Education to comply with a Senate order for forestry-related documents
Senator Cadell’s motion noting the Minister for Education had failed to comply with a Senate order for production of documents (No. 370) agreed on 4 March 2026, and requiring compliance by midday on 25 March 2026. The Government argued it did not hold the documents, which related to the ANU. Payman voted against the motion. The motion passed 23 to 19.
- My vote
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No
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Release documents on NSW Police firearms import blockage caused by Antisemitism Laws
Voted to require the Government to release documents on NSW Police firearms imports being blocked by the Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act
Senator Payman’s motion requiring the Minister for Home Affairs to table all communications relating to reports that a contractor supplying firearms to NSW Police had been blocked from importing more than 250 firearms due to the cancellation of import permits caused by the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026, by 5 pm on 24 April 2026. The motion was defeated 30 to 27.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Release documents on Dennis Richardson’s resignation from the Antisemitism Royal Commission
Voted to require the Government to release communications about Dennis Richardson’s resignation as Special Adviser to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism
Senator Payman’s motion requiring the Attorney-General to table all communications between her office, the Attorney-General’s Department, Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell and Dennis Richardson relating to his resignation as Special Adviser to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, by 5 pm on 30 April 2026. The Senate agreed 37 to 20.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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Urgency motion on the Government’s handling of Australia’s fuel security crisis
Voted for a Coalition urgency motion condemning the Government’s response to the fuel security crisis
Senator McKenzie’s urgency motion condemning the Government’s handling of the fuel security crisis amid widespread fuel shortages across Australia, with reports of over 100 service stations in NSW without diesel and 35 without any fuel. The motion criticised the Government for being asleep at the wheel as force majeure clauses were imposed by Singapore refineries. The motion passed 27 to 21.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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Suspend standing orders to debate resignation of Bondi Royal Commission special adviser
Voted to suspend standing orders so the Senate could debate the resignation of Dennis Richardson from the Bondi Royal Commission
Senator Cash sought to move a motion about the resignation of Dennis Richardson as special adviser to the Bondi Royal Commission. Leave was refused so she moved to suspend standing orders to bring the matter on for debate. Payman voted in favour of allowing the debate. The suspension motion was defeated 33 to 26.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Suspend standing orders to consider Offshore Petroleum (Domestic Reserve) Bill
Voted to suspend standing orders so One Nation’s domestic gas reservation bill could be considered during private senators’ time
Senator Hanson sought leave to schedule the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Domestic Reserve) Bill 2026 for debate during private senators’ time. Leave was refused. She then moved to suspend standing orders to allow the motion to proceed. Payman voted in favour of suspending standing orders. The motion was defeated 32 to 27.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Pocock amendment to Greens amendment on Offshore Petroleum (Domestic Reserve) Bill
Voted for Senator Pocock’s amendment to the Greens’ amendment on the Offshore Petroleum (Domestic Reserve) Bill
During debate on One Nation’s Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Domestic Reserve) Bill 2026, Senator David Pocock moved an amendment to the Australian Greens’ amendment. Payman voted in favour of Pocock’s amendment. It was defeated 34 to 13.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Greens amendment to Offshore Petroleum (Domestic Reserve) Bill
Voted for the Greens’ amendment to the Offshore Petroleum (Domestic Reserve) Bill
Senator Hodgins-May moved the Australian Greens’ amendment to One Nation’s Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Domestic Reserve) Bill 2026. Payman voted in favour of the Greens’ amendment. It was defeated 35 to 13.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Senate committee inquiry into taxing offshore LNG gas revenue
Voted to establish a Senate committee to examine taxing Australia’s offshore LNG gas export revenue
Senator Pocock’s motion to establish a Senate select committee to inquire into the taxation of offshore LNG gas revenue, including the impact of gas price increases on Australian households and businesses since 2016, the ACTU’s proposed 25% gas export revenue tax, and what could be done with additional revenue from taxing the LNG industry. The committee would report by 11 May 2026. The motion was defeated 23 to 17.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Senate inquiry into Australia withdrawing from the Paris Agreement
Voted against establishing a Senate inquiry into withdrawing Australia from the Paris Agreement
Senator Bell moved to refer to the Environment and Communications References Committee an inquiry into Australia’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, including the legal steps required, the implications for scrapping net zero targets, and the claimed economic benefits of removing net zero policies for electricity prices, industry and cost of living. Only 4 senators voted in favour. Payman voted against. The motion was defeated 35 to 4.
- My vote
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No
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Pass the Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026
Voted to pass legislation strengthening protections for people who provide information to royal commissions
Third reading of the Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026, which strengthens legal protections for people who provide information to royal commissions — directly relevant to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. Payman voted in favour. The bill passed 34 to 10.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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Suspend standing orders to debate fuel security and shortages
Voted against shutting down debate on the Coalition’s suspension motion about Australia’s fuel security crisis
Senator McKenzie moved to suspend standing orders to allow urgent debate on the fuel security crisis, amid widespread reports of fuel shortages and price spikes in regional communities. Senator Wong then moved a gag motion to close debate on the suspension. Payman voted against the gag motion, supporting continued debate. The gag motion passed 34 to 28, blocking the suspension.
- My vote
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No
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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