Peter King (Australian politician)

Peter Maxwell King (born 23 July 1943) is an Australian former politician. He served as the independent Member of Parliament for the Division of Wentworth in the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2004.

King was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and educated at the University of Sydney, where he gained degrees in Arts, Law and Medicine. Prior to entering politics, he worked as a general practitioner.

In the 2001 federal election, King defeated the incumbent Liberal member, Andrew Thomson, running as an independent candidate focused on issues such as opposing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), advocating for stronger border protection, and promoting a more accountable government. His victory was considered a significant upset.

During his term in parliament, King sat on several committees, including the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. He frequently spoke on issues of immigration, taxation, and foreign policy.

In the 2004 federal election, King was defeated by Malcolm Turnbull, the Liberal Party candidate. He subsequently unsuccessfully contested the seat of Wentworth in the 2007 election.

Since leaving politics, King has returned to practicing medicine. He has remained an occasional commentator on political and social issues.