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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Greens second reading amendment condemning Migration Amendment Bill
Voted for the Greens’ amendment condemning the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill
Senator Faruqi moved a second reading amendment condemning the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026, which gives the Home Affairs Minister power to suspend temporary visas in periods of international conflict. Payman voted in favour of the amendment, which would have placed the Senate on record as opposing the bill’s approach. The amendment was defeated 24 to 11.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Tyrrell second reading amendment condemning Migration Amendment Bill
Voted for Senator Tyrrell’s amendment condemning the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill
Senator Tyrrell moved a second reading amendment condemning the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026 for granting extraordinary ministerial power to prevent people fleeing conflict zones from entering Australia and for removing basic parliamentary safeguards such as a sunset clause and scrutiny powers. Payman voted in favour. The amendment was defeated 24 to 11.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Pass the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026 at second reading
Voted against passing the Migration Amendment (Iranian visa holders) Bill at second reading
The question was that the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026 be read a second time, the key vote on whether the Senate agreed with the bill in principle. The bill gives the Home Affairs Minister power to suspend temporary visas for classes of non-citizens during periods of international conflict. Payman voted against. The bill passed 24 to 11.
- My vote
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No
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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Final passage of the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026
Voted against the final passage of the Migration Amendment (Iranian visa holders) Bill
The final vote on whether the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026 be passed in its entirety. Payman voted against the bill’s final passage. The bill passed 26 to 11, meaning it now proceeds through the remaining parliamentary stages before becoming law.
- My vote
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No
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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Suspend standing orders to debate Islamophobia motion
Voted to suspend standing orders so the Senate could debate the Greens’ Islamophobia motion
This vote attempted to suspend standing orders to allow the Greens’ Islamophobia motion (moved by Senator Faruqi) to be debated and voted on. Payman voted in favour of suspending standing orders to enable the debate, but the motion was defeated.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Refer Freedom of Information Act reform to Senate committee
Voted to refer FOI Act modernisation to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee
Senator Payman’s own motion to refer an inquiry into modernising and improving the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for report by 22 June 2026. The inquiry would have examined updating the Act for new technology and protecting Australians’ right to access government-held information. The motion was defeated.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Consider Offshore Petroleum (Domestic Reserve) Bill in private senators’ time
Voted to allow One Nation’s Offshore Petroleum gas reservation bill to be debated during private senators’ time on 12 March
Senator Hanson’s motion sought to have the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Domestic Reserve) Bill 2026 — which would mandate a domestic gas reservation — considered during private senators’ bill time on Thursday 12 March 2026. Payman voted in favour of allowing the bill to be debated. The motion was defeated.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Urgency motion on Government’s handling of Australia’s fuel security
Voted for a Coalition urgency motion calling on the Government to take responsibility for Australia’s fuel security crisis
Coalition urgency motion calling on the Labor Government to take responsibility for Australia’s fuel security issues and outline actions being taken to ensure adequate fuel supplies, amid widespread reports of fuel shortages in regional areas linked to rising global tensions following US-Israel strikes on Iran. Payman voted in favour; the motion was defeated.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Urgency motion — Government to respond to National Anti-Racism Framework
Voted for Senator Thorpe’s urgency motion calling on the Government to respond to the National Anti-Racism Framework
Senator Thorpe’s urgency motion calling for the Government to issue an official response to the National Anti-Racism Framework by the end of March, given the framework had been handed down by the Race Discrimination Commissioner in November 2024 with no government response 16 months later. Payman voted in favour; the motion was defeated.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Migration Amendment Bill (Iranian visa holders) to proceed without formalities
Voted against the Migration Amendment (Iranian visa holders) Bill bypassing normal parliamentary scrutiny
This vote determined whether the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026 — proposing broad ministerial discretion to prevent Iranian visa holders from entering Australia — could bypass standard committee scrutiny and proceed without the required notice period. Payman voted against fast-tracking the bill; the motion to bypass formalities passed.
- My vote
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No
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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Senate inquiry into governance and performance of Housing Australia
Voted to establish a Senate inquiry into Housing Australia’s governance and performance
Senator Bragg’s motion to refer the governance and performance of Housing Australia to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 February 2027. The inquiry would have examined the Housing Australia Future Fund, board composition, compliance with Senate orders, and workplace standards. Payman voted in favour; the motion was defeated.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Disallow Help to Buy Exemptions Regulations 2025
Voted against disallowing the Help to Buy Exemptions Regulations 2025
Senator Bragg’s motion to disallow the Treasury Laws Amendment (Help to Buy Exemptions) Regulations 2025 made under the Corporations Act 2001 and National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009. Payman voted against disallowance, effectively supporting the Help to Buy regulations remaining in force. The disallowance motion was defeated.
- My vote
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No
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Suspend standing orders to debate Australia’s military role in the Middle East
Voted against shutting down debate about Australia’s military role in the Middle East
The Greens sought to suspend standing orders to debate a motion calling on the Government to withdraw military support and avoid involvement in the Iran conflict. The Government moved to shut down debate. Payman voted against closing debate, but the motion to end discussion passed 26 to 13.
- My vote
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No
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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Disallow Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulations 2025
Voted to overturn the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulations 2025
The Greens moved to disallow the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulations 2025, which underpin the regulatory framework for nuclear-powered submarines visiting Australian bases under the AUKUS program. Payman voted in favour of disallowance, arguing the regulations deepen Australia’s military alliance with the US. The motion was defeated 30 to 11.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Fail
- Proposed by
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Require Government to explain withheld documents on Antisemitism Royal Commission
Voted to require the Government to explain why documents about the Antisemitism Royal Commission were withheld
Senator Payman’s motion noted the Government had failed to comply with a previous Senate order requiring documents related to the proposed Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. Rather than demanding immediate release of withheld Cabinet documents, the motion required the Government to provide a list of each withheld document, its date and type, and a detailed explanation of the harm that would result from its release, by midday on 16 March 2026. The Senate agreed.
- My vote
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Yes
- Outcome
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Pass
- Proposed by
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