Sky News Interview with Kieran Gilbert - 3 February 2026

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

03 February 2026  

Transcript  

Sky News Interview with Kieran Gilbert 

Topics: Extending protest laws; Coalition split; Interest rate rises; Cost of Living crisis. 

E&EO …  

 

Kieran Gilbert  

Let’s bring in the Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh as we leave that news conference with Mal Lanyon. Extending the protest laws to cover the visit by the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, that makes sense, doesn't it? That move, given the level of animosity that there is there.  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

Yeah, and obviously that news is just breaking now, but on the surface it does. You've got to think about who's on the front line of these protests, and it's our emergency services, our police that are putting themselves in the way and ensuring that people are safe. So, if there is that type of division, you've got to take the right advice.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

You can see why he's erring on caution, certainly, given recent events in Australia.  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

Yeah, and Australia has experienced a lot of divisiveness and I think after Bondi, there's been a great desire in communities for people to be united and together, not to have hate and anger.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

What's the situation right now? As you can tell, obviously it's moving, we don't know what the Nats are going to do in terms of this offer. But from Sussan Ley to them, like a six-month suspension for those front benchers, she's trying to extend the olive branch. Will it be accepted by the Nats? Should it be?  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

Well, I said straight away when we had the split that I've been a strong coalitionist and I think we, and I've had lots of colleagues say it, but truly mean it, we are stronger when we're together. And people in my community don't really understand why we're apart and want us to be holding the government to account. So, I believe, it's my understanding through Sussan, that it was an amicable discussion and it was positive. But the ball is in the Nationals court now about what they'd like to do with the offer.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

Alex Hawke yesterday said it would be the biggest own goal in centre right politics in our history if David Littleproud doesn't return to the Coalition, and given where One Nation is at the moment in the polls, do you fear that's the case?  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

Yeah, and we don't want own goals; we want to be strong, and I think what will help stop everyone talking about the Coalition, and what's going on right now is the Coalition actually being together. So, I feel things are feeling more positive than they did when we were here last, and I think there is a desire to come back together and to move forward out of this phase.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

There's a reality check too. When you look at where One Nation is at, that people are saying, look, if you can't get your house together, we'll look elsewhere.  

 

Melissa McIntosh  

Yeah, I think Australians rightly see through the politics and they don't like it when we're behaving in this way and we're talking a lot about ourselves. Because the reality, I always say this to you when I'm on your program, you go out to places like Penrith in Western Sydney and the reality is on the ground when you see people doing it tough and they're like, well, you're not thinking about us when you're doing this. So, I think if we can get through this and we then focus on the Australian people and holding the government to account, then it might help us when it comes to the One Nation crisis.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

And do you believe Sussan Ley then is going to get through this period too?  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

I think she's done a good job to hold us together right now and to give the Nationals, you know; she's opened the door, and she's given them an option, and she's laid that out. So, I think she's showing some strong leadership and as I've said before, I always support the leader and she has my support.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

Ok, now on the rates decision this afternoon, you spoke about your constituents in Penrith. There was a lot of nervous households today.  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

I just don't know how much more give there is in a family budget. When people are struggling and they are almost sold by the government that rates were coming down, things would be better for them and they adjust. People adjust their family budgets accordingly, whether they're renting or they're mortgage holders, and to have this surprise, inflation rate and now highly likely  - interest rate rise, that scares people because they don't have the money, they don't have the spare cash around. So, people across Western Sydney, across Australia, I think would be quite nervous.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

This is obviously the number one issue and will remain that till the next election is this cost-of-living and rates question  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

Yeah, and what's the reality of cost of living? It's everything from fuel to ....  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

See, the Coalition can unite behind that issue, surely.   

  

Melissa McIntosh  

Yes  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

That has been the underpinning strength of your proposition to the Australian people for a long time.  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

Yeah, that the Coalition's strong on the economy.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

Surely you can get your act together to be able to unite on that.  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

Yes, and I think we will and you just have to look, as I was just saying, it comes to you breaking down what cost of living is and something that really concerns me is food insecurity and people can't actually afford food on their table, and that's a big thing and I think the Coalition can prosecute against the government and all their broken promises to the Australian people on cost of living.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

It's going to be an unusual question time this afternoon, though, isn't it, with the Nats on the crossbench? That's not how you want to see it.  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

No, and I've had to shuffle over one, and of course, you can just see it. There's no denying that it will be different. Unfortunately, the government has used its numbers in the House, less transparency again and cut the numbers of questions for question time and this has been a consistent sort of habit of the government to reduce question time, reduce pressure on the government when it comes to their liability of the Australian people and their promises.  

  

Kieran Gilbert  

Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh, thanks for your time.  

  

Melissa McIntosh  

Thank you