Transcript - 2GB Mornings - 27 November 2025

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

27 November 2025  

Transcript  

2GB Mornings with Mark Levy

Topics: Social media ban; Triple Zero outage; Optus; leadership.

E&EO …  

Mark Levy

Well, we're in the last sitting week for the year in Canberra, but there's plenty going on down there. There's been more concerns about Optus in recent days, both with a fresh outage on the outskirts of Melbourne yesterday and the revelation from Telstra that Optus botched another email address when informing authorities of its fatal September 18 Triple Zero call failures, and of course we have continued chatter about the social media ban, which is due to come into force on the 10th of December. I spoke with Dr Zac Seidler yesterday about how this ban could impact young people because some are concerned that there could be a dangerous void left by the sudden restriction on these platforms and today there's news as well that two teens with the support of libertarian MLC John Ruddick are challenging the laws in the High Court, saying they restrict the implied right to freedom of political communication. There's a fair bit to talk about, so I thought we'd catch up with the Shadow Communications Minister, Melissa McIntosh, and she joins me on the line from Canberra. Melissa, good morning to you.

Melissa McIntosh

Good morning. Thanks for having me on.

Mark Levy

I thought we'd start off with the social media ban because there's a story today in The Australia - you've signalled some concerns with this saying, well, I don't know what it's going to do, and can kids sort of get around this? I just had an open line call from a gentleman with seven children who have said his kids have already realised how they can get around it through a VPN that takes them through another country. So, there's already loopholes and the kids trying to get around these laws and they haven't even come into effect yet, Melissa?

Melissa McIntosh

Yeah, Mark, I feel like the Shadow Minister for warnings right now, warning about the social media ban, warning about the Triple Zero ecosystem, but this one's really serious and I have to start by saying the Coalition did support the ban going in, but that doesn't mean I can't question whether it's going to be successful or I can't pressure the government on ensuring the intent to protect kids is actually the intent. We're hearing now that digital ID could be used, people could be compelled to use it. I reckon your listeners would hate that. They'd hate to think that they might need digital ID and your caller saying that their kids are already getting around it - of course they are. Kids are going to find their way around it, but the intent to protect kids, that's a good intent. But all I'm doing is questioning whether it's going to work and if it doesn't work, what do we do next?

Mark Levy

Do you think we're rushing into this, Melissa?

Melissa McIntosh

I feel like the government set this deadline on the 10th of December and they've failed every step of the way. So, there is a question, possibly rushing and to hear there's new technology coming on with AI bots and you know, we're almost moving beyond the social media to another realm which could be more dangerous. So just having a ban, is that going to have the outcome that we want? But you know we're committed to it. I can't say we're not now, but I can question, I can hold the government to account, and I can say this is not right to compel people to use digital ID. Who wants to load their licence or their birth certificate which then goes to a third-party provider, not even the tech companies and then where is that data stored? Right now, it’s stored offshore.

Mark Levy

Yeah, and my concern Melissa too is I've certainly centred on a gaming platform called Roblox which has been highlighted in the United States which has been accessed by pedophiles who have preyed upon children. Krissy Barrett, the AFP Commissioner, has signalled some concerns. And, well, Roblox doesn't fall under the social media ban that is being - that's going to about to come into effect on December 10th so it sort of defeats the purpose I would have thought.

Melissa McIntosh

Yeah, you're right on that and the platforms have been drip fed in. So, Twitch was included just last week and then there's question marks around, well YouTube. A lot of kids are going to now roam around on YouTube just freely but then you've got something like Roblox, and I know I've got teenage kids, that there's some really inappropriate stuff going on there but they're not included. I hope we can fix this up or the government and in the meantime, I'll just keep shining a light on the inefficiencies and the concerns that every Australian - this is on behalf of Australians right? I'm allowed to express concern and say this isn't going right, the intent to protect kids is not going right.

 Mark Levy

Well, you're a politician but you're also a mum. You're entitled to an opinion I would have thought. From social media we go to your role as the Shadow Communications Minister and the whole Triple Zero debacle from Optus. Front page of The Australian today, Labor and the Federal Communications Department repeatedly warned the nation needed a 24/7 Triple Zero watchdog housed in the emergency management hub to protect people quickly in case of a system failure. So, it sounds like this should have been and could have been avoided.

Melissa McIntosh

I don't know how you describe being someone that's been saying this for months and can everyone listen to this, and can the government do something but nothing gets done. I've been warning about it. I've said speeches in Parliament. We rushed legislation through Parliament to have a Custodian which is meant to sort this out and then found out the Custodian had been sitting in the Minister's Department since March. And now we find out the Custodian shouldn't be there they should actually be in emergency services. People died, sadly. They lost their lives when they couldn't call Triple Zero. The government didn't do enough. The Minister traipsed off overseas, held a press conference about how amazing the government is around social media and left her post during a crisis and we've had more outages. We've had, you know, theft of copper wiring apparently at major infrastructure sites.  I've been calling for a thorough, independent investigation into the whole Triple Zero ecosystem: the infrastructure, the telcos that are receiving huge government contracts at the same time as huge fines for letting down Australians to ensure that people can call Triple Zero in their greatest time of need.

Mark Levy

Yep. One last one before you go, Melissa. Last sitting day of the year in Canberra. It sounds like Barnaby Joyce is about to announce that he'll be jumping ship to the Coalition. Is he a loss for the Coalition?

Melissa McIntosh

I've really enjoyed having Barnaby as a colleague and he's been around a long time, and he's actually given me some really good advice about being a strong local member first and foremost and always listening to your community. I'll personally feel that that's a loss if he does go, but that's obviously Barnaby's choice.

Mark Levy

And just on Sussan Ley, I know you harbour a desire to one day lead the party, you've made that clear. I think she deserves a wrap, I think she's had a pretty good week. I mean, now that you've ditched net zero and she's been there prosecuting a case and taking it up to Chris Bowen and highlighting some of the deficiencies of this government, namely off the back of that inflation data as well yesterday, she's had a pretty good week, I would have thought. Do you agree?

Melissa McIntosh

Yeah. I'm glad you're saying that. I think it was really important we dropped net zero. My community, I surveyed them they really wanted us to and to take a different path for Australians and Sussan has been out there strong. And my position on leadership in the future, I said, nobody's going to tap you on the shoulder and say, can you do that? So I'm just putting out my hand saying, I would really be honoured in the future but right now I'm backing Sussan and I really hope we can be a strong Opposition on all the issues that matter to everyday Australians.

Mark Levy

Well, there's nothing wrong about being ambitious, Melissa. There's nothing wrong with that. Thanks for joining us and enjoy the last day in Canberra, I'm sure there'll be some shenanigans somewhere. Appreciate your time.

Melissa McIntosh

Of course. Thank you.

Mark Levy

That's Melissa McIntosh, Member for Lindsay and the Shadow Communications Minister.