Transcript - ABC Afternoon Briefing

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

24 July 2025

Subject: Parliament returns; social media age minimum.  

ABC Afternoon Briefing with Patricia Karvelas  

Patricia Karvelas

Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh. She's also the Shadow Minister for Women. Welcome.

Melissa McIntosh

Thank you.

Patricia Karvelas

What did you make of the new dynamic in the Parliament?

Melissa McIntosh

It's a very different dynamic. I have to say. It's a little quieter on our side and I turned around yesterday. It's because there's less of us, but we are going to be a strong Opposition. It doesn't mean that we're going to hold the government to account any less. They may be big Labor, but they've also got big promises to fulfill for the Australian people.

Patricia Karvelas

Yeah, it's interesting you say that. I noticed that your side was quieter, but actually given their numbers, I was surprised that they were not as rowdy as I thought. So the Parliament sounds different already. Is it a gentler parliament? Is there any evidence of that?

Melissa McIntosh

You're very optimistic on day two?

Patricia Karvelas

I'm definitely not optimistic. More intrigued?

Melissa McIntosh

Yeah, well last Parliament, the Prime Minister promised a gentler, you know, more loving Parliament. You can feel it there. I think they're probably finding their way. There's a lot of new members of Parliament too on the government side. For us we have a new leader, so we'll see what happens next week. But we prosecuted some pretty important, broken promises that we think are already being made to the Australian people. And one of the issues that I'll keep pushing really hard, which I think we'll talk about today, is around the social media ban that's coming up. And we're waiting very much for the government to make a decision.

Patricia Karvelas

Yeah. On the social media ban, there's a lot still influx. You're right. Have you sought a briefing from Anika Wells, who's the new Minister to try and work out what's coming next, including what's in and out, including YouTube, which I believe she's met with.

Melissa McIntosh

I certainly have asked for a briefing. It was one of the first things I did when I came into the position and she has vocally told me that that will come. I'm waiting. But most importantly, the Australian people are waiting. I think, well, we’re nearly five o'clock, so we've got to remember the intent of this policy. Around five o'clock is when kids get home from school, they whip out their phones and they're on social media. The longer we wait, the more kids are exposed to harmful content. This is what it's about, preventing harm to kids. What are we doing? We need to make sure that the policy's right, the government gets it right, particularly for Australian kids, but for families.

Patricia Karvelas

Have you met with the eSafety Commissioner to talk about her report and some of her concerns about how to roll this out. I've put in a request to have a briefing from the Commissioner and also the Department. It's not as easy as just having a meeting. Unfortunately, I'm at the whim of the government to allow me to have that meeting. I would love to meet with the eSafety Commissioner. Because every parent that I speak to about this subject; they are concerned about their kids. And this is about the kids, but they're uncertain. So is YouTube in or out? Are big tech companies going to be able to get around the rules somehow? We’re waiting for the rules to be tabled in Parliament, and that's the important part of this. Is this going to be done by the tenth of December? I'm hearing murmurs in the corridors just this week that the deadline might lapse. That means over Christmas kids are still going to be exposed when they're on holidays to social media. We need to have something in place and we have to first and foremost, have to remember, this is all about Australians being safe; the safety of our youngest Australians.

Patricia Karvelas

Just before I let you go, and we finish the show for the day, Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack kind of took all of the headlines at the beginning of the week, just as Sussan Ley, your first female leader, was to take her role in question time. They were pushing for the abandonment of net zero. Is that unhelpful behaviour?

Melissa McIntosh

I think for Sussan, she's a strong parliamentarian, been here a long time. She knows the deal when it comes to the Nats. That can be very theatrical and part of being in Parliament is the theatrics. And I think there's a bit of a show this week if there's going to be a week where there's a tension on saying something to cause a bit of disruption. It's the first week

Patricia Karvelas

And you are the Shadow Minister for Women. When they're talking about how virile they are, how do you hear that Melissa McIntosh?

Melissa McIntosh

Oh, you don't want to hear certain language. But I opened the paper yesterday and there was a photo of my shoes, and that was a story in one of the biggest …

Patricia Karvelas

Really?

Melissa McIntosh

… media outlets was which shoes I was wearing yesterday. So, you know, you feel like you've come a long way.

Patricia Karvelas

I know I missed it. I like to think I read everything, but I somehow missed it. You missed the shoes. Your shoes made it in the shoes. How did that land on you?

Melissa McIntosh

Well, it's something that you just shake it off, you shake it off. You hope that under all that you've got a thick skin. You have to have a laugh sometimes. It's not all that important. What's important is the policy making.

Patrica Karvelas

What does it say That our media is still scrutinizing what you're wearing?

Melissa McIntosh

I don't know, do you get scrutinised each day? I'm sure you get some feedback.

Patricia Karvelas

I don't love it.

Melissa McIntosh

No, I think the more we talk about it, it helps. We expose it. But we don't get too down about it. We're here for a job. You’re here for a job. I'm here for a job and my job's to represent my community.

Patricia Karvelas

Melissa McIntosh, you wear whatever shoes you like. Thanks for joining us.

Melissa McIntosh

Thank you.