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.