Fatima Payman on representation, politics and fighting for justice
Uncommon Ground with Talal YassineShow Notes
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. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on your favourite podcast platform. 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) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from Uncommon Ground with Talal Yassine
What does a career in politics cost the person behind the public figure? In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Professor Talal Yassine sits down with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to explore the experiences that shaped her, from an unconventional childhood on a remote Victorian property to entering federal politics at just 25. Sarah reflects on the influence of her parents, her early activism and the challenges of raising a daughter while navigating life in Parliament. She also speaks candidly about personal criticism, bullying and harassment, and the experiences that have shaped her views on political life. It’s a conversation about family, conviction, disagreement and the sacrifices that can come with a career in the public eye. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine Links Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1 Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine Episode Running Order Sarah’s earliest childhood memories of growing up on a remote property in East Gippsland (00:01:47) Living off-grid, being homeschooled and leaving home to attend high school in Orbost (00:04:40) How her parents encouraged curiosity, independence and a willingness to challenge injustice (00:06:51) Her early ambition to become a journalist and the university lecture that changed her direction (00:14:19) Discovering student politics at Adelaide University and being elected student president as an independent (00:16:35) Learning to disagree respectfully and working with future South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas (00:20:42) Her early involvement in refugee advocacy and the path from student politics to the Senate (00:23:57) Sarah’s election to the Senate at 25 and the realities of entering federal politics as a young woman (00:26:05) The 2007 election campaign and Sarah’s experience of entering Parliament as a young senator (00:33:09) Discovering she was pregnant in the same week she was preselected for the Senate (00:38:11) Becoming a mother while beginning a demanding career in federal politics (00:38:40) How her childhood connection to nature continues to shape her environmental priorities (00:42:19) Talal challenges Sarah on data centres, artificial intelligence and the environmental costs of new technology (00:43:33) Sarah’s concerns about the impact of large data centres on local communities, water and energy resources (00:44:07) The debate over how Australia should regulate data centres and benefit from the resources they use (00:50:50) The challenges of being a young woman and single mother in Parliament (00:57:30) Sarah’s experiences of bullying and harassment, and her decision to speak publicly about them (00:59:14) Her legal case against former senator David Leyonhjelm and its impact on how she responded to personal attacks (01:01:40) Gender, power and the treatment of women in Australian politics (01:03:06) The Me Too movement and the ongoing challenge of changing workplace culture (01:07:15) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What happens when the person appointed to combat Islamophobia discovers that parts of the very community he is meant to serve don’t trust him?
In this episode of Uncommon Ground Talal Yassine sits down with Penny Bingham Hall, one of Australia’s most respected company directors and a former senior executive at Leighton Holdings. Penny reflects on her childhood, her parents’ migration to Australia, and the values of confidence, education and independence that shaped her. She shares how a background in industrial design unexpectedly led her into construction, infrastructure, strategy and eventually the boardrooms of some of Australia’s largest organisations. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine Links Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au
In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Talal Yassine sits down with Arthur Sinodinos, former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister John Howard, senior minister, senator, and Australia’s former Ambassador to the United States. Arthur reflects on his journey from a Greek migrant family in Newcastle to the centre of Australian public life, sharing insights on economic reform, political discipline, leadership, and diplomacy. He discusses the Howard years, the GST, the changing culture of politics, his battle with cancer, and what he learned representing Australia in Washington during the Trump and Biden years. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine Links Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1 Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine Episode Running Order Arthur’s childhood in Newcastle and growing up in a Greek migrant family (00:00:50) School, university and discovering economics (00:04:57) From Treasury to John Howard’s office (00:07:16) Working inside government and the road to Chief of Staff (00:10:50) The GST, economic reform and the discipline of policy (00:28:28) Lessons from politics, government and party leadership (00:47:57) His cancer diagnosis and recovery (00:55:15) Becoming Australia’s Ambassador to the United States (01:01:32) Trump, Biden and representing Australia in Washington (01:03:27) AUKUS, diplomacy and the changing strategic world (01:07:18) Life lessons, risk-taking and what matters now (01:15:47)
In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Talal Yassine sits down with Adam Liaw, cook, writer, broadcaster and one of Australia’s most respected voices on food and culture. Adam reflects on his unconventional journey from a high-achieving young lawyer to winning MasterChef Australia, and why that moment didn’t change his life in the way most people expect. Instead, he shares how curiosity, storytelling and a willingness to embrace uncertainty shaped his career across television, publishing and business. The conversation explores growing up between cultures, the influence of migration and identity, and how food became both a personal anchor and a professional platform. Adam also opens up about work, success and why he challenges the idea that hard work alone leads to fulfilment. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine Links Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1 Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine Episode Running Order Childhood in Malaysia and migrating to Australia (00:00:41) Family background and growing up between cultures (00:02:03) Early schooling, acceleration and finishing school young (00:03:34) Living independently and developing resilience as a teenager (00:07:58) University life, law and science degrees at a young age (00:14:24) The importance of friendships and perspective over academics (00:15:23) Learning how to think, not just study (00:18:06) Starting a career in law and working in high-pressure environments (00:23:39) Moving to Japan and working in-house at Disney (00:25:32) Learning language, culture and independence through food (00:36:53) Discovering a passion for cooking and cultural identity (00:34:57) Applying for MasterChef and taking an unconventional risk (00:31:28) The reality of MasterChef and approaching it as a “puzzle” (00:38:34) Winning MasterChef and the unexpected aftermath (00:42:48) Finding purpose through storytelling and SBS opportunities (00:44:13) Building a career in media, publishing and production (00:48:40) Lessons on opportunity, failure and resilience (00:49:02) Views on work, success and challenging the “hard work” narrative (00:55:26) Family, fatherhood and redefining priorities (00:53:30) The challenge of saying no and creating space for life (01:01:06) Quickfire reflections: identity, misconceptions and personal values (01:02:10) Advice to his younger self and what truly matters (01:08:17) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.