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Fatima Payman First Hijabi Woman in Australian Parliament

  • Publish date: Friday، 24 June 2022
Fatima Payman First Hijabi Woman in Australian Parlimant

Fatima Payman became the first Afghan-Australian and the first hijab-wearing Muslim woman in the Australian parliament.

She is the state's only new senator, after Labor senators Sue Lines and Glenn Sterle were re-elected, along with Liberal senators Michaelia Cash and Dean Smith.

"WE WON!!!! I'm proud to announce that I've officially been elected as a Senator for Western Australia," Ms Payman said on Facebook.

"Thank you everyone for your love and support! We did it!"

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered his congratulations on Twitter, with a simple "Congratulations Senator Payman".

Ms Payman became an organiser for the United Workers Union and, after losing her dad to leukaemia in 2018, and decided she wanted to represent hard-working Australians like him who strived to make ends meet.

She is passionate about breaking down barriers for women, young people and culturally diverse communities.