Sky News First Edition with Peter Stefanovic - 6 February 2026

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

06 February 2026 

Transcript 

Sky News First Edition with Peter Stefanovic

Topics: Coalition split; Capital Gains Tax.

E&EO … 

Peter Stefanovic

To Canberra now. Negotiations over reforming the Coalition appears to have ended in a stalemate, unless there's a change today. The Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, had demanded an end to negotiations by 9am this morning, according to the AFR, but as of yet there's no breakthrough, despite the proposed interventions of former Coalition elders John Howard, Tony Abbott and John Anderson. Joining us now out of Canberra, the Shadow Comms Minister, Melissa McIntosh. Good to see you this morning, smiling, Melissa. So, as you understand things, is there a deal? 

Melissa McIntosh

Good morning Pete. We've still got a couple of hours to go, so I'm, as always, feeling optimistic. I'm looking forward to getting back to my community and out of Canberra for the weekend. That's probably why I'm smiling, but I really hate opening the papers every morning and seeing this continue in the public. I feel embarrassed walking out in my community. They don't want this; they don't want us to be fighting. But if there's anyone that can bring the broad church back together, it is John Howard. I worked for him many years ago during the era of the best times of the broad church. So, I'm optimistic about something happening and if it takes a bit more time, it takes a bit more time, but I think in the interest of Australians, we need to get back together. 

Peter Stefanovic

Have you got a message for the Nats this morning, in terms of unity?

Melissa McIntosh

I think I said to you a couple of weeks ago, and this is how long it's been going, that I've always gotten along really well with the Nats and worked closely with them. A lot of their policies that we share resonate well in my electorate. The fight we had around ensuring that Australians don't have higher power prices and we dropped net zero, and nuclear went well in my community too. So, I do hope that things can be put aside, negotiations can come to a positive and we get back to doing what we do best -and that's holding the government to account and then hopefully winning an election that would be really good. But most importantly, doing what our communities need us to do.

 Peter Stefanovic

Keeping Cabinet solidarity appears to be the red line in terms of the Liberals and Sussan Ley. Do you hope that remains? 

Melissa McIntosh

I think it's a really important red line. If we don't have Cabinet solidarity, then it could become a free for all and it's a very important part of your commitment to Shadow Cabinet and to the party and to the Coalition. So, it's not something that would be a surprise to anyone as you go through your career and you're working in the best interests of the parties and of the Australian people. So, yes, I think that is an important red line to hold. 

Peter Stefanovic

And do you think those suspensions should remain regarding those rebel Nationals? 

Melissa McIntosh

Well, that's up to the negotiations between Sussan and David, but I think Sussan as leader made her position clear and that’s that they did break Cabinet solidarity. So that's an important position for her. I'm not part of the negotiations, trying to tell you about the ins and outs of what's going on would be me making it up, but I think it's an important point. 

Peter Stefanovic

I mean, you mentioned John Howard. There's talk that he, Tony Abbott, John Anderson may have to get involved to help kind of broker a ceasefire, if you like. I mean, are you supporting their involvement? 

Melissa McIntosh

I'm supporting anything that will get us to a positive outcome and gets our focus back on the Australian people, where we bring both parts of the team back together. And I think they're both - all of them actually, are really respected former leaders and if anyone gets involved, we know that Sussan has had many conversations with Mr. Howard, well I'm sure that would be welcome. 

Peter Stefanovic

Okay, if there's no deal today, you braced for a long time apart? There are some suggestions that this breakup could last until the next election in 2028. 

Melissa McIntosh

Well, ideally I wouldn't like that because it keeps the conversation going in the public and the public doesn't want us to be talking about ourselves any longer. It's very clear. You can see it in the polls, you can see it when you go out in the streets and people are telling you to get your act together. So, I would like it to happen sooner rather than later, but we want it to stick. When it does happen, there's no point in doing this again because, you know, the division will be shown again. So, I think more important the priority should be ensuring that when we do, so I’m saying when not if, when we do get back together, that it does stick. 

Peter Stefanovic

So, the leader is announcing new shadow frontbench on Sunday. Are you expecting a new role, Melissa? 

Melissa McIntosh

I'm quite happy where I am, Pete. I haven't actually thought about that. I'd rather the Coalition to be back together. You know, I've done what I can to hold the government to account on the Triple Zero outages on social media, I still have questions around what success actually is, I'm doubting that it is successful. All these things are really important but thank you for asking, for my promotion. 

Peter Stefanovic

We'll see what happens on Sunday. Just a final one here, and this is outside of all your shenanigans, but the government has the capital gains tax discounts in its sights. Are you for moving at all on this? There's some talk that it'll drop from 50% to 33% or even lower than that, in line with inflation. Have you got a thought on that before we go? 

Melissa McIntosh

My thought on that is why would we be putting more pressure on households and families when they're already suffering enough? The government shouldn’t even be looking at increasing taxes on the family home to cover for their excessive spending. I don't think any Australians would be up for that. So, no, that's definite no go zone for us. 

Peter Stefanovic

Melissa McIntosh, good to see you as always. We'll chat to you again.