Media release - New Parliament, same Communications failures

Melissa McIntosh MP
Shadow Minister for Communications
Shadow Minister for Women
Federal Member for Lindsay

22 July 2025

New Parliament, same Communications failures

The bells and whistles of a new Parliament might be sounding, but there are full blown alarms going off in the Communications portfolio thanks to the on-going failures by the Albanese Labor Government.

Protecting our kids from harms online is of paramount importance, but the government is in a quandary right now on their social media policy. The eSafety Commissioner’s recommendations are awaiting a response and families and stakeholders need to know which platforms are in or out of the social media age minimum.

Australians are also waiting on Labor’s rollout schedule for their $3 billion NBN upgrade. The Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation is another government commitment from the new year which has not progressed. Neither has the government’s reform on gambling advertising or the News Bargaining Initiative, both promised this year.

Shadow Minister for Communications, Melissa McIntosh said, “kids safety comes second to nothing, and it is incumbent upon this Labor government to get on with its decision on which platforms are in or out of the social media age minimum so Australian families and the platforms can work towards the imminent December deadline.”

“The NBN’s customer base is dropping with products not up to scratch and high price rises. The Albanese Government committed another $3 billion for the NBN in January. Six months on and there is no schedule for the rollout and communities are beginning to question this government’s lack of meaningful delivery and commitment to the basics of affordable and accessible internet.

“Early this year, the government announced their desire to legislate a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation. They still have not answered how much this would cost and whether the technology is ready for at-scale installation. This seems like another election commitment with no real follow through in the Communications portfolio.

“We’re still waiting on gambling advertising reforms that the Prime Minister said was important, but he led the only major party going into the last election without a position on minimising gambling ad harms. In November last year, the government announced a digital duty of care which has gone nowhere. We’re still awaiting further information on the News Bargaining Incentive which was announced in December 2024 and a paper due for release early this year.

“The Albanese Labor Government must get serious about the Communications space and start this Parliament by prioritising its commitments to the Australian people on social media, gambling advertising, the NBN network and the UOMO.” 

Note: Changes to the original media release have been made.