INTERVIEW: Basem Abdo on his Palestinian heritage and being a first-time federal MP

SBS Our House

Basem Abdo speaking to SBS's Ewa Staszewska Source: SBS News / Rania Yallop

Labor’s new Member for Calwell says recognising a Palestinian state is more than symbolic, promising to take the fight up with his party room. Basem Abdo’s parents are Palestinian refugees who fled to Kuwait before coming to Australia. He sat down with SBS News for his first interview since the May election.

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Published 29 July 2025 7:39pm

Updated 9 September 2025 1:17pm

Presented by Ewa Staszewska

Source: SBS News

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Labor’s new Member for Calwell says recognising a Palestinian state is more than symbolic, promising to take the fight up with his party room. Basem Abdo’s parents are Palestinian refugees who fled to Kuwait before coming to Australia. He sat down with SBS News for his first interview since the May election.

A previous version of this podcast described Basem Abdo as the first Australian parliamentarian of Palestinian heritage. This has been updated for accuracy.

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