Curtin's Cast Episode 46 - 4 March 2026 - Peter Khalil MP

This week Curtin's Cast is joined in the studio by Peter Khalil — Labor member for the federal seat of Wills in Melbourne, Assistant Minister for Defence, former Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, ex-national security adviser to Kevin Rudd, and previously the government’s former Special Envoy for Social Cohesion. From public housing in Melbourne’s north to junior tennis glory, from working as an executive with SBS to the frontline of Australia’s national security debate — Peter’s story is as global as it is grounded. And Nick Dyrenfurth and Kos Samaras go deep with Peter, exploring: 🎾 Growing up in Melbourne’s north to immigrant parents — and what a good working-class boy was doing playing tennis ✝️ Who are the Egyptian Copts? Peter gives us a history lesson — one of the world’s oldest Christian communities, tracing their lineage back to the early Church, shaped by centuries of survival, faith and minority resilience in the Middle East 🧭 Why Peter chose the brutal occupation of parliamentary politics over a a successful and comfortable executive career 🏘️ On the ground in Wills — what voters are actually saying at the doors 🤝 Social cohesion beyond the slogan — what happens when trust frays? ⚠️ Extremism — left and right — protest, grievance, and social media accelerant 🌏 Geo-political volatility — what does middle-power strategy look like now? All killer, no filler. Catch Episode 46 wherever you get your podcasts.