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submitted 4 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/world@lemmy.world

When Fatima Payman crossed the Senate floor to vote against her government she knew it would come with consequences.

The Australian Labor party has strict penalties for those who undermine its collective positions, and acts of defiance can lead to expulsion - a precedent with a 130-year history.

The last time one of its politicians tested the waters while in power was before Ms Payman was born.

But last Tuesday, the 29-year-old did just that - joining the Green party and independent senators to support a motion on Palestinian statehood.

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[-] girlfreddy@lemmy.ca 43 points 4 months ago

The Australian Labor party has strict penalties for those who undermine its collective positions, and acts of defiance can lead to expulsion - a precedent with a 130-year history.

This is not unique to Auzzie politics. AFAIK every Westernized nation's parties follow the same rule.

My question is if your nation touts its democracy as the best thing since sliced bread, how do you mesh that with dictatorial leadership forcing politicians to vote along party lines, especially on something like this?

Enforced conformity is about as undemocratic as it gets, yet I don't see any big names standing up against it.

[-] JacksonLamb@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago

forcing politicians to vote along party lines

They are not forced to vote along party lines. However, they don't get to stay in the party unless they vote with it. They become Independent.

Some issues, usually moral issues, are "conscience" votes and there is no party line for those.

[-] itslilith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 4 months ago

But what counts as a conscience vote is up to the parties once again. Palestinian genocide? Clearly not a moral issue

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this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2024
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