Lawmaker told to drink, ‘dance on table’
Senator Fatima Payman files formal complaint with parliamentary watchdog.

Senator Fatima Payman files formal complaint with parliamentary watchdog.

The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that an affidavit of desistance — a sworn statement withdrawing a complaint — is…

Dear Atty. Nico,
A local court sentenced two Chinese nationals to life imprisonment over a 2020 drug trafficking attempt involving 239…

Former Partylist Representative Zaldy Co was charged with malversation and graft at the Sandiganbayan on Friday over…

The Office of the Ombudsman has recommended two counts each of graft and malversation against Surigao del Norte Rep.…
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A Muslim lawmaker in Australia said Wednesday that she has complained to a parliamentary watchdog after a male colleague allegedly urged her to drink wine and “dance on the table.”
Senator Fatima Payman — who said she does not drink alcohol — claimed the older colleague made a series of inappropriate remarks after he “had too many drinks” at an official function.
He said: “Let’s get some wine into you and see you dance on the table,” Payman, 30, told national broadcaster ABC.
“I told this colleague, ‘Hey I’m drawing a line mate,’ and moved on to making a formal complaint,” she said.
It was not clear when the alleged incident occurred or who the colleague was.
Born in Afghanistan, Payman is the first senator to wear a hijab inside Australia’s parliament, according to local media.
Former political staffer Brittany Higgins in 2021 alleged she was raped by a colleague inside a parliamentary office, triggering protests across the country.
A scathing review later found Australia’s parliament was rife with heavy drinking, bullying and sexual harassment.
Independent Senator Payman split from the left-leaning Labor government in 2024 after accusing it of failing to help Palestinians in Gaza.