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 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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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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