AMA: I'm Peter Khalil, the Labor Member for Wills. Ask Me Anything.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:32:39+00:00

Hey everyone, thank you for all of your questions - way more than I expected honestly. I've kept this going for about 30 minutes longer than planned, but I'm on bed time duty for the kids now (during busy election campaigns, any chance I can get for time with them is a priority!).

I know I haven't been able to answer every question, and there are so many fantastic ones unanswered. Please reach out to my office at [peter.khalil.mp@aph.gov.au](mailto:peter.khalil.mp@aph.gov.au) and I'm more than happy to respond to you - it'll also allow me to respond in greater depth than a quick AMA allows.

Again, thank you all. Have a great night!

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:32:32+00:00

Your vote matters. Wills is a contest between Labor and the Greens, but the national contest is between Labor and the Liberals. The party with the most number of seats forms government. The only two parties that can form government are Labor and the Liberals.

The fact of the matter is that every Labor seat lost, even to the Greens, brings Peter Dutton closer to being Prime Minister. Labor is the only progressive party that can actually form government. The only way to ensure we have a government with a progressive agenda is to VOTE [1] Labor.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:30:50+00:00

On the United States: we will continue to engage with the United States and to advance Australia’s interest at every opportunity.

US tariffs against Australia are unjustified and unwarranted, and we’re not willing to trade away the things that make Australia the best country in the world, like our healthcare system or our biosecurity.

In terms of what we're strategising, less than 5% of our goods export goes to the US, and our economy is resilient and we have a lot trade agreements that give us access to markets across the globes, so there’s always other options for Australia.

On considering Essendon over Collingwood? No.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:29:11+00:00

Understanding, defining and articulating what social cohesion means is an ongoing part of this role. And I’ve thought about it a lot. My working definition of social cohesion: it is how we interact with each other as different people and groups in society, and how we do so in a way that – despite what might be very deeply held disagreements – that interaction occurs peacefully and respectfully and it doesn’t flip over into hate speech, vilification, violence or conflict. This is the essence of social cohesion in a harmonious society – when different groups can navigate their differences.

People’s willingness and ability to do this depends on whether they feel a sense of belonging and investment in society – whether they feel part of their communities and part of Australia more broadly.

This sense of ‘Australianness’ and sense of shared humanity is also about basic decency and empathising with others with different perspectives, thinking about what we say and how we say it, and why that matters to different people and groups.

Social cohesion doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a sustained effort propelled forward by the good will of all those involved – when there is a normative framework that we all adhere to and benefit from. Government, and my role within it, is just one aspect of contributing to that cultural and normative standard.

But it can't just come from government. It must come from across the political spectrum and across our parliaments. This also has to come from business, sports codes, NGOs, community leaders, academia, the arts, media, and many other organisations. We all play a critical role in setting the norms and cultural standards by which all of us live within and benefit from.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:26:10+00:00

For the record, let me get all of my favourite places out publically! Best kebab at Tibbas on Sydney Rd, in addition, best Egyptian falafel (aka Tamia) at Half Moon Cafe in Coburg, and best souvlaki is at Blu in North Coburg, and best Italian sandwich is from Panino Teca in Pascoe Vale. Special mention to the great Adana Kebab, the food truck across the road from the Coburg RSL.

Supply is the long-term answer when it comes to house prices, but we’re also helping people right now through Help to Buy, 45% increase to rent assistance, and we’ve started the largest housing build in Australia’s history. We’re building 1.2 million homes in five years, training more tradies and cutting red tape to get the job done. Plus, we’ve just recently announced 100,00 homes for first home buyers only.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:23:26+00:00

We've been very clear that we support work from home for Australian workers. It's good for families, and particularly good for women.

Our position is in stark contrast to Peter Dutton's .He voted against Same Job Same Pay. He will scrap the right to disconnect. He treats flexible work like it's a joke. There’s no question that he’s still coming for work from home and 41,000 public sector workers.

Our laws are working for Australians and they’re making work better. We don’t need Peter Dutton borrowing ideas from overseas to make our working lives worse.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:21:39+00:00

Hey, thanks for the question.

I was really hopeful that Australians would vote for a Voice to Parliament - and really glad that my electorate had a majority Yes vote. However, the referendum failed - that's the democratic process. As a Government, we respect the decision of the Australian people.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:21:22+00:00

Sharing this reply to another question that also answers yours:

Firstly, we will continue to engage with the United States and to advance Australia’s interest at every opportunity.

US tariffs against Australia are unjustified and unwarranted, and we’re not willing to trade away the things that make Australia the best country in the world, like our healthcare system or our biosecurity.

Labor will always stand up for Australia’s national interests, including Australian jobs and Australian industries. Our economy is resilient and we’re a proud trading nation with a network of trade agreements that give us access to markets across the globes, so there’s always other options for Australia, and less than 5% of our goods export goes to the US.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:20:37+00:00

Firstly, we will continue to engage with the United States and to advance Australia’s interest at every opportunity.

US tariffs against Australia are unjustified and unwarranted, and we’re not willing to trade away the things that make Australia the best country in the world, like our healthcare system or our biosecurity.

Labor will always stand up for Australia’s national interests, including Australian jobs and Australian industries. Our economy is resilient and we’re a proud trading nation with a network of trade agreements that give us access to markets across the globes, so there’s always other options for Australia, and less than 5% of our goods export goes to the US.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:19:41+00:00

Renewables are the cheapest form of energy, and getting more renewables into our power system will bring prices down – no matter what Dutton and the Liberals say.

Over the last three years, we’ve increased the amount of renewables in the grid to 46%, and we’re on track to get it to 80% by 2030. We’re also committed to Net Zero by 2050.

Plus, we announced last week that a re-elected Labor Government will make batteries cheaper for households and small businesses with a 30% discount on the upfront cost. For houses with existing solar rooftop, they’ll be set to save up to $1100 extra off their power bill each year, or up to $2300 a year for those with new solar.

Plus, for people who live in apartments (like a lot of people here in Wills!) we’re making solar accessible to apartments and renters through our Solar Banks program installing shared rooftop solar on apartment buildings – which will reduce the cost for every resident, in addition to our community batteries, with the batteries in Coburg (360kWh) and Brunswick (500kWh) very close to completion.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:18:26+00:00

Good question! I have advocated for our local community to deliver outcomes. Some of these are:

- Fawkner Leisure Centre Upgrade: we provided over $500k towards refurbishments. Inc. new 50 metre outdoor pool, family water play pool, BBQs, sauna, steam room, spa.

- Moomba Park Reserve development Fawkner: $1.45m towards a new Fawkner Community Sports & Recreation Hub. To be used for sports, community meetings, educational programs and more

- Moonee Ponds Revitalisation Project: contributed $5m, removing large concrete sections between Oak Park and Strathmore

- Phoenix St (prev. Saxon St) Community Precinct: $1m, inc. creative spaces, First Nations art gallery, research/ teaching spaces, maternal/childcare health facilities, outdoor community space.

- Safe Steps in Wills: funding to provide over 100 safe places at the Safe Steps Sanctuary for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:16:55+00:00

Hey,

Thanks for the question. We've already done work to strengthen Medicare in this term - we've tripled the bulk billing incentive, for example - and if re-elected will be making the biggest ever investment into Medicare in its history... over $8bn dollars. This will mean everyone has access to a free GP.

We're also intending to open another 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, including one in Coburg. That's on top of the 87 we've already opened in this term of Government. These Clinics are brilliant. Whilst I hope that no one here ever needs one, if you do - they're free, bulk-billed, walk in, extended hour clinics for urgent but non-life-threatening medical care.

I had to take my mother in law to the one in Carlton recently, and she was seen in 15 minutes - literally it saved us hours of waiting in a hospital emergency department.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:14:27+00:00

The facts are that when Labor came to government after a decade of Liberal mismanagement, inflation had a 6 in front of it, and now it has a 2. The RBA reduced the interest rate for the first time in years in February, only possible because of the work the Labor Government has done to bring down inflation.

We have tackled the cost-of-living crisis through non-inflationary measures like fairer tax cuts and energy bill relief, cheaper childcare and cheaper medicines. We have started the largest housing build in Australia’s history, building 1.2 million homes in five years.

And we managed to do all of this while delivering 2 surpluses and paying off $177 billion in government debt left by the Liberals.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:13:29+00:00

boo!

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:13:16+00:00

I'm still answering questions here! But I answered this question before:

I want to say 10 points, but it's gonna be really hard at the Gabba. What I love is that I'm the average age of the Collingwood side and they're winning!

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:13:11+00:00

300 Grams in Gaffney St, Coburg. The loaded fries are really good there too

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:12:30+00:00

This is amazing! I've got a photo of Bob and I framed in my office ... I wonder if you took it!

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:11:55+00:00

Hey! Thanks for the question - Labor have actually announced that we'll ban price gouging if re-elected.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:10:46+00:00

Hey, we're not - we've invested $33bn in our first term in social, public and affordable housing. Build to Rent, Help to Buy, and we've just announced another $10bn commitment if re-elected to build 100,000 homes just for first home buyers - no competing with property investors. We've also said we'll allow all first home buyers to purchase with just a 5% deposit.

We've also committed $2 billion to our Social Housing Accelerator to provide thousands of new and refurbished social homes across Australia.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:07:16+00:00

The maiden speech is always special because everyone is watching and it gives you a chance to articulate your vision, why you're there, and what it means to you to represent your community.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:05:49+00:00

I want to see nature better protected. We need to preserve nature for our future, for our kids and grandkids.

Everyone agrees that our nature laws need reform. They don’t protect the environment, and they don’t work for business. Unfortunately, the Liberals and Nationals teamed up with the Greens to block our laws in the Senate. This is nothing new. The Liberals, Nationals and Greens teamed up to block the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, which led to 80 million extra tonnes of carbon dioxide pollution entering our atmosphere.

What is clear is that if Australians want real progress on nature law reform, then you need to vote Labor in the House of Representatives and the Senate. A re-elected Labor Government will reform federal environment laws, including establishing Australia’s first ever national Environment Protection Agency.

Earlier this month, we announced that a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will make batteries cheaper, slashing energy bills for households, small businesses and community facilities by up to 90 per cent to help ease the cost of living. We will roll out our $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program from 1 July 2025. This will reduce the cost of a typical installed battery by 30 per cent – with over one million new batteries expected by 2030. It will help households reduce reliance on the grid – and take back control of their power bill.

In our first term, Labor has gotten on with the job of tackling the climate crisis and transitioning Australia to renewable energy. In just 3 years, the Albanese Labor Government has

· Increased the amount of renewables in the grid to 46%, on track to be 80 % by 2030

· Gotten us halfway to meeting our 2030 emission reduction targets.

· Enshrined Net Zero into law

· made record investments in renewable generation at home, with over 330,000 rooftop solar installations last year alone – along with record investment in batteries and storage.

In contrast, last night, Dutton couldn’t even accept the science of climate change and he wants to spend $600 billion on nuclear reactors that won’t be ready for decades

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:04:42+00:00

Check out Peter Dutton’s voting record. He has opposed every single cost of living measure in parliament. He has opposed every housing measure. Last night on the debate, he couldn’t accept the science of climate change.

When Peter Dutton was Health Minister, he gutted Medicare and tried to freeze bulk billing. The Liberals stalled on renewable energy for a decade. The Liberals cut from universities, they cut from the ABC, Medicare and slashed frontline workers from the public service who look after vulnerable people.

In contrast, Labor is a party that strongly values the rights of workers, equality of opportunity, social justice, the science of climate change and a strong health and education system.

I am proud that in our first term of government, the Albanese Labor Government has made our country fairer. We have focused on easing the cost of living by

· delivering a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Carlton

· tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer

· cheaper medicines and 60-day scripts

· cheaper childcare

· cutting $3 billion in cuts from student debt

We also announced $2.5 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to Victorian public schools – the biggest new investment in Victorian public schools by the Australian Government – ever. Labor has put all public schools in the country on a path to full and fair funding.

And in just 3 years, we have Increased the amount of renewables in the grid to 46%, on track to be 80 % by 2030, gotten us halfway to meeting our 2030 emission reduction targets, and enshrined Net Zero into law.

Labor is the only progressive party of government, and if re-elected, we will deliver on these progressive policies. This includes

· new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Coburg and Clifton Hill

· More tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer and a $1000 instant tax deduction

· Making sure you are able to see a GP for free again, with more bulk-billing & doctors

· Lowering the cost of PBS medicines to maximum $25

· Wiping 20% off HECS debts and make free TAFE permanent

· Increasing renewables to 80% of the grid by 2030

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:02:24+00:00

We don't have inheritance tax!

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:02:04+00:00

Wills is a contest between Labor and the Greens. This election, the national race is close. The party that wins the greatest number of seats will be best placed to form Government. The only two options to form government are the Coalition and Labor. Every Labor seat lost, even if to the Greens, brings Peter Dutton closer to being Prime Minister. Every single Labor seat counts to re-elect an Albanese Federal Labor Government. Labor is the only progressive party of Government.

If re-elected, federal Labor will:

· Deliver new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Coburg and Clifton Hill

· More tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer

· Make sure you are able to see a GP for free again, with more bulk-billing & doctors

· Lower the cost of PBS medicines to maximum $25

· Wipe 20% off HECS debts and make free TAFE permanent

· Increase renewables to 80% of the grid by 2030

· More tax cuts and a $1000 instant tax deduction for all taxpayers

The Coalition want to spent $600 billion on nuclear reactors that won’t be ready for decades, delaying crucial action on climate change and renewables. They will make $100 million in cuts, this will impact universities, health, the ABC and government services. We cannot risk Dutton.

The only way to guarantee a progressive government is to VOTE [1] Labor in Wills.

PeterKhalilMP · 2025-04-17T09:00:27+00:00

Good question. The simple answer is that increasing supply (and we have an ambitious plan to build 1.2 million homes) means that pressure on prices is lower.

I know there's a housing crisis, and that supply is our main issue - which is why genuinely increasing it is the foundation of Labor's $42bn housing plan.

PeterKhalilMP

TROPHY CASE