Fatima Payman asks Anthony Albanese for more staff as she begins ‘listening tour’ of regional WA

Ex-Labor senator Fatima Payman has formally asked former boss Anthony Albanese for extra staff just weeks after quitting the party to become an independent. The West Australian can reveal Senator Payman has submitted the request to the prime minister as she embarks on a 12-day “listening tour” of regional WA towns. The 12-town blitz got off to a slow start on Wednesday with just one local turning up to a community event at a park in Geraldton. Senator Payman is still adjusting to life as an independent after spectacularly quitting Labor over frustrations with the Government’s approach to Palestinian statehood and the Gaza conflict. Among other logistical challenges, the first-term senator needs to find new staff after parting ways with her Labor-aligned employees amid the split with the party. Most independents and minor party MPs are given extra “personal staff” – on top of the standard allocation of five electorate officers – in recognition of the extra workload of dealing with every piece of legislation. But the decision on the exact number rests with Mr Albanese. The West Australian understands the prime minister’s office has only just received Senator Payman’s request and will consider it through the normal process. Senator Payman should be in line for two extra personal staff – the same number allocated to other upper house independents. Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie was allowed to hire a third personal staffer during the defence and veterans’ suicide royal commission. Senator Payman promised on the day she quit Labor to visit every town in the State as she vowed to become a voice for Western Australia “without boundaries”. After visiting Geraldton on Wednesday, where meetings were scheduled with the local mayor and chamber of commerce, she is planning stops in Carnarvon, Karratha, Port Hedland, Broome, Kununurra, Bunbury, Collie, Katanning, Albany, Esperance and Kalgoorlie before Federal Parliament returns on August 12. Senator Payman said concerns about housing shortages, cost-of-living and the impact of the live sheep export ban rammed through by her old party were among the top issues being raised with her. She recently met representatives from peak body WA Farmers and wants to sit down with WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jervis before settling on the live sheep ban, including the adequacy of the $107 million industry transition package. Senator Payman wants to use the regional WA blitz as an opportunity to show voters she is not a “single issue” politician interested only in pushing Palestinian recognition. “Palestine and the genocide in Gaza was the trigger that saw my exit out of the party,” she said. “But I have a long way to go in terms of making sure that West Australians have that confidence in me being their independent voice. “This isn’t going to be a once-off tour. I’m going to do this as regularly as I can because we shouldn’t neglect our regions.” Geraldton resident Toby Fitch – the only local to attend Senator Payman’s “community caucus” on Wednesday afternoon – said it was important for federal politicians to show their face in the regions. Senator Payman only publicised the event on social media on Wednesday morning, meaning locals just had a few hours’ notice. “It’s not often you see senators visit regional areas to actually hear local voices,” he said. “She says she’s representing all Western Australians, and she’s taken some brave stances that I really support.”