Contributed by Adam Carlton

The isolation and eventual departure of Senator Fatima Payman from the Labor Party is t first glance about her insistence on Australia recognising the Palestinian state. This issue has been an important factor. But is about much more than this. The Payman matter is symptomatic of the trouble Labor has landed itself in.

It’s about rising internal autocracy. Top-down authority has always been a feature of the party. In recent times it has increased to the point of generating internal friction. The excuse given for the treatment is that she breeched parliamentary caucus unity. This may sound reasonable at first glance. It becomes unreasonable when you consider the extent to which it has become aa means for gagging by the leadership. Many Labor members are in the long-standing parliamentary Labor Friends of Palestine Group. They are silenced by what is called the leadership team. This is the Prime Minister and those closest to him.

The problem extends past this. The gap between Labor and its political base is widening. Labor is increasingly seen as moving away from being for the working class, to take on the Liberal Party’s role as the representative of big business. There was an expectation of a fundamental shift from the Morrison government’s economic and social policies. Time has shown the shift to be almost imperceptible.

It happens that Labour’s strongholds happen to have substantial populations from Middle East origin. Most have been Labor voters. They feel betrayed and are turning away. Complicity with Israel, ignoring the slaughter in Gaza, and encouraging Islamophobia in Australia has added a new element to this.

Senator Payman argues that she represented the view of much of the party. Membership. Labor Friends of Palestine agrees. Payman says that decisions are already made before they go to caucus to be rubber stamped. This claim is valid.

The Friends of Palestine have vowed to continue campaigning in party branches, at conferences, and in the community, openly advocating for an immediate recognition of Palestine.

“We reject any attempt to shut down debate,” the group said.

Then Labor goes on to appoint Jillian Segal a prominent pro-Israel personality Jillian Segal, as special envoy to combat hate speech. Talk about rubbing salt into a wound. This will be directed towards accusing pro-Palestinians of antisemitism.

The Party’s platform includes a call for the recognition of a Palestinian state. Since party policy not binding on the leadership, policy is often ignored. Doing so has become a bigger problem for this leadership., when its political base sees major retreat on all fronts.

A sizeable proportion of traditional Labor voters are turning to the Greens. Mostly because they believe that far too little is being done about the rising cost of living, creating jobs, and rebuilding government services. They want to be listened to.

Labor now faces the prospect of newly organised opposition that will hurt it at the ballot box, and Anthony Albanese has been prompted to hit out at Payman, for not keeping her views inhouse. He has accused her of not having raised her concerns in the caucus. She denies this.

Labors widening gulf with its political base may well end up costing it the government benches. If it does so, this will be an outcome Anthony Albanese and his team have created for themselves.