Khalil’s campaign schedule is tight: wake-up at dawn, head to train stations to meet commuters before door-to-door visits, phone calls and meetings with organisations and individuals.
“It’s a very intense period,” he said during an exclusive interview with Riccardo Schirru on Il Globo TV, “You learn a lot on a campaign, because people are starting to switch on to politics and what it means to them.”
During the interview, Khalil took stock of his work as a Labor MP and outlined the goals still to be achieved, with both a domestic and international perspective.
Among the most significant local achievements during his term, Khalil proudly lists the one million dollars assigned to a new arts centre in Brunswick, the environmental renewal of Merri Creek, the creation of two community solar batteries in Brunswick and Coburg, and the opening of the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Coburg.
“They’re fantastic,” he said of urgent clinics, “If you need more than a GP and less than a hospital for things that are non-life threatening.”
On the national front, Khalil strongly defends the Albanese government’s investments to fight the rising cost of living by reducing prescription drug prices from $41 to $25, providing energy subsidies, increasing pension payments and addressing the housing crisis.
“For me, housing is - in a philosophical sense - based on a human right,” said Khalil.
“The dignity of having a roof over your head is a fundamental human right and I start from that first principle.
“That’s why we invested $33 billion in our first term on public, social and affordable housing.”
The MP didn’t spare Peter Dutton his criticism, accusing the opposition leader of a lack of transparency regarding his party’s proposal to build a nuclear power plant.
“Peter Dutton refused to say how he was going to find $600 billion to build nuclear reactors,” said Khalil, referencing the debate between the opposition leader and the prime minister on the ABC.
“… when he was health minister, he ripped $30-50 billion from the public health system.
“He tried to get rid of bulk billing. [The Liberal Party has] got a track record [of cuts].”
Khalil also addressed the growing challenges surrounding public discourse and the global shift towards populism which he believes is, in part, caused by nefarious actors seeking to coopt legitimate socioeconomic issues for their own gain.
“For me, it’s about building up our democratic institutions,” he said.
“They’re not perfect, but it’s important that we protect them and enhance them and involve them.”
On the protests outside his electoral office:
“It’s a fundamental democratic right to protest,” he said, “As long as it’s done peacefully.
“As long as it doesn’t cross a line over into hate speech, attacking someone because of their ethnicity or their faith or their sexuality or their gender and as long as it doesn’t go into violence.”
Khalil also spoke about what drives him in politics.
“[Life’s] not just about making money,” he said, “It’s about serving the community … and helping others have a better life.
“Despite the cynicism around politicians and politics,” he continued, “you can use political power in a way that helps shape your community for the better.”
