At just 27, Fatima Payman made history as the first hijab-wearing Muslim woman elected to the Australian Parliament. Her election was more than symbolic, it was a moment of visibility that resonated deeply across Australia, especially for young people who had never seen themselves represented in public life. 

In this candid conversation with Talal Yassine, Fatima shares her extraordinary journey, from refugee roots in Afghanistan and Pakistan, to growing up in Perth, to the unlikely path that took her into student activism, union organising, and finally the Senate. She speaks openly about her late father’s influence, the lessons of resilience and faith her parents instilled, and the weight of carrying both community hopes and personal expectations. 

Fatima also reflects on the challenges of navigating politics as a young woman of colour, the racism she faced at university, the pressures within party politics, and the personal cost of taking a stand when her conscience collided with party lines. She explains why she chose principle over convenience, even at the risk of her career, and how she continues to redefine what representation can look like in modern Australia. 

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Episode Running Order 

• Intro: who is Senator Fatima Payman and why her story matters (00:00) 

• Early memories: Pakistan, reunion with her father, arriving in Australia (02:05) 

• Family history & politics in the blood: grandfather’s role, dad’s influence (05:10) 

• Faith & agency: choosing the hijab at 12 and owning the decision (08:15) 

• Growing up in Perth: Islamic school, belonging, first brushes with prejudice (11:20) 

• Uni shock: “Do you have a bomb?” and turning ignorance into dialogue (14:30) 

• First activism win: saving the campus café with a petition (17:40) 

• Enter Labor: coffee with Pierre Yang, volunteering, first campaign (20:25) 

• Young Labor president: diversifying the room and building field muscle (23:15) 

• Union organiser: aged care to factories—rights, persuasion, and trust (26:40) 

• Preselection saga: citizenship hurdle, “you won’t win #3,” and the upset (30:05) 

• Day one in Canberra: Senate school, staff, and the reality of power (33:45) 

• October 7 as turning point: platform vs. party line (36:30) 

• Speaking out: genocide language, pressure, and double standards (40:00) 

• Crossing the floor: consequences, conscience, and fallout for Jacob (44:10) 

• Leaving Labor: independence day and what came next (48:05) 

• Building Australia’s Voice: party launch, tour of WA, 2025 run (51:00) 

• Beyond Palestine: housing, climate, HECS, aged care, youth voice (55:05) 

• Not the Greens: balance of power and why she stayed independent (58:00) 

• Quick-fire Q&A: misconceptions, guilty pleasures, advice to young women (1:01:20) 

• Closing reflections: courage, cost, and representing WA on her terms (1:04:10)