Basem Abdo

Basem Jamal Abdo is an Australian politician who serves as a member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the Division of Calwell. He was elected in the 2025 election as a member of the Australian Labor Party. The son of Palestinian refugees, Abdo is the first person of Palestinian descent to serve in the Parliament of Australia.

Basem Abdo MP
Abdo in 2025
Member of the Australian Parliament for Calwell
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 May 2025 (2025-05-03)
Preceded by	Maria Vamvakinou
Personal details
Born	Basem Jamal Abdo Kuwait
Political party	Labor
Spouse	Natascha

Early life

Basem Abdo was born in Kuwait to Palestinian refugees. His father fled his village in the West Bank during the Six-Day War. Their family sought refuge in Jordan during the Gulf War and moved to Australia in 1991.^[1] His father was trained as a electrical engineer, but was unable to find employment in Australia as an electrical engineer.^[2]

Abdo graduated from Gladstone Park Secondary College and is a qualified teacher. He married to Natascha^[2][3] and is a Muslim.^[4]

Career

Abdo worked as an advisor for Maria Vamvakinou, a member of the Australian House of Representatives. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and is aligned with the Labor Left faction of the party.^[5][2]

For the 2025 federal election Abdo was selected to succeed Vamvakinou as the ALP's candidate in the Division of Calwell and defeated twelve other candidates for the seat. Vamvakinou endorsed Abdo and Calwell has been held by Labor since its creation in 1984.^[1] 23.8% of the population of the Division of Calwell is Muslim, one of the highest for any Australian electorate.^[6] Abdo is the first member of the Parliament of Australia to be of Palestinian descent.^[2][7]

Political positions

Abdo supports increasing the minimum wage.^[8]