Transcript - Doorstop (social media and Priya's Law) - 5 November 2025

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

5 November 2025 

Transcript 

Doorstop – Parliament House, ACT

Topics: Social media age minimum; digital ID; eSafety Commissioner; Priya’s Law.  

E&EO … 

Melissa McIntosh

I've got three children, so I think there's nothing more important than protecting our kids. And protecting our kids online from social media harm is essential and as a mum with three kids, experienced it myself, inappropriate content online that our kids are seeing bullying online. This is just not on.

That's why the Coalition came to the election with the bill. We were the ones that put it forward to ban social media. But since that time, I've become really concerned that this social media ban is going to work and I've been expressing my concerns over weeks and weeks now.

We've only just found out that 35 days to go now until the ban comes into place, that another two platforms will be included. So we're at crunch time - December 10 - and we're just finding out from the government and the eSafety Commissioner still which platforms - we don't know if they're all in or out now.

We don't know which age verification technology is going to be used. And so many Australians contact me concerned about the potential use of digital identification. I met with the eSafety Commissioner, she – I’m probably not her best friend, I've been putting a bit of pressure on her of late and asked her about digital ID and whether people across the country, adults, could be compelled to use it. And she said to me that digital ID could be used and she does have the power to enforce it, but it wasn't her intention to do that and I don't think it should be an individual's decision whether you can enforce the power that you have as the eSafety Commissioner. And it is clear that platforms may require people to use digital ID to verify their ages. That is also a big concern.

And the education campaign - I don't know if any of you have seen the ads, but these ads are meant to let you Australians know, mums and dads, children, schools, that the ban is coming and it's not strong enough. I met with the families of people who sadly lost children to social media harm, and they met with the Prime Minister and they weren't confident that these ads were going to do enough, that the families knew enough about the ban.

So today, again, I think the government's letting Australians down. The Minister left during the Triple Zero Optus outage crisis to go overseas and do a song and dance and tell the whole world how amazing the Albanese Labor government is with this ban before it's even been put into place. PR’ing something that still may not work. And that's where we are at today. Just over a month to go. So many questions and this has been meant to be about protecting Australian children.

Journalist

Melissa, on a different topic, sorry. In your capacity as a Shadow Minister for women, do you agree with Sussan Ley's comments? She said this morning that some comments made by Andrew Hastie, Barnaby, Joyce and so forth on late term abortion last week on the Priya's Law debate. Were they insensitive to you?

McIntosh

Well, Priya’s Law went through without any challenges from our side. And I believe what my colleagues did was what they are allowed to do and that's on conscience. So they expressed their conscience views, but there were no issues in allowing that to go through. For me, I think about the families and we've all got friends and families that have lost children so late and I can imagine how much it stirs emotional turmoil in people. So that was their decision and I hope we can move on from that. And I hope that bill that did go through does help some of those Australian families that are going through so much.

Journalist

Is it concerning that some of those conservative colleagues are trying to elevate abortion as a federal political issue?

McIntosh

I never saw that. I think they probably at that time of being able to speak on that bill, express their views as a matter of conscience.

Journalist

There was some suggestion though that women might get pregnant, then terminate, just to take leave. I mean, does that not isolate and alienate Australian women?

McIntosh

I've never heard of a woman doing that. I don't know, you as reporters, have you ever come across a story where a woman has done that?

Journalist

No, precisely. But that’s what your colleagues are suggesting.

McIntosh

That's not a concern. Well, that, as I said, I still believe that was up to them as a matter of conscience to be able to express their views. I know that even Andrew Hastie is a man of faith, so that's their position. But that bill did go through and I hope it does bring some comfort to families that would be very traumatised.

Journalist

On the ban, we're getting this kind of one by one drip feeding of platforms kind of by the day. You worried the sort of government's kind of making this up on the fly. Or figuring it out on the fly.

McIntosh

Figuring it out on the fly, and this is meant to be about protecting kids. My concern is that the intent of the ban, you know, we all support that because it's hard to work out how to protect kids online. There's so many elements to it from parental responsibility to the schools that are, you know, teachers trying to face this and then the kids themselves at an age where, you know, struggling to make those decisions.

So what I'm seeing now is that there's a high risk that this won't work. If we're a month out and we’re just went finding out about platforms now, that is policy on the run. They need to get this right. And there are still too many questions, as I said, including the platforms, which age verification technology they're going to use.

Journalist

On that question of harm, I mean Inman Grant today made it very clear that harm was not a category that they were using to describe, to list, a social media platform. It was rather whether it was substantively a social media platform. Do you think that's a failure, that harm is not being included in that equation?

McIntosh

This is all about harm, isn't it? This is all about the harm that can, you know, that children are confronted with. And that's her - she has a lot of powers so it's up to her to make her position known. But this is all about protecting children from harm. And we know through speaking to teachers, having, you know, as I said, having children myself, it's an ongoing battle.

Even when you're across it and you think you're doing all the right things, trying to protect your kids from harm is a huge thing, but I guess that's the criteria. But this is the thing she said it's not about that but we're still finding out which platforms are in and out and they're meant to self-determine.

So it's quite confusing. Parents and families still don't really know what's going on. And remember the 10th of December is right when school holidays are on. So how's that going to work out for Australian families when the kids have to detach themselves from their social media world.

Journalist

Just on the - you said they have to self-determine. Do you think that stacks up having these social media companies sort of just being sent this checklist, see if you're eligible or up for this social media?

McIntosh

Yeah - you've got to remember that only just recently happened as well. And what happens if they, they're not doing enough? Like how are we going to, to enforce what the eSafety Commissioner is trying to do? But more than anything it's around the lack of preparedness of the government. So they've got this deadline, the tenth of December. How are we going to ensure kids are off social media? Is it going to work? I just really fear that this whole exercise and the intent behind it is very good. We do want to protect Australian children, but if it doesn't work, where are we after that? Where do we go after that?

Journalist

Do you think more time would solve that? Obviously you said the intent is good. Do you think maybe the deadline needs to be pushed out to work through some of these sort of problems, or do you think that it's just not going to work?

McIntosh

Well, the government set that deadline and I asked the eSafety Commissioner and she seemed confident that that deadline can be met. But as you just said about drip feeding platforms, day by day. It does leave uncertainty and you want a lot of adults don't like this. They think this is even overreach.

So if it doesn't work, what's going to be the outcome where people get cranky that we've all gone through this for something that didn't work in the end? And what would be the next measure to protect Australian children? So the government should be doing everything it can. If they want this and they think it's going to work, get on with the job and actually do it properly.

Journalist

Ms McIntosh, would do you support broader attempts to regulate social media algorithms, if that is even within the Australian government's jurisdiction? Because I guess what you're talking about goes to the heart of, you know, the problems with prohibition. It's hard to enforce. Kids have ways of getting around these things. VPNs, we've seen VPNs go up, you know, like banning kids from doing stuff

McIntosh

Makes them want to do it more.

Journalist

Right, so what can that government do? What are you prepared to talk to the Minister about in terms of regulation to keep everyone safe online?

McIntosh

Well, I think let's get to this point. Potentially. We know that some of those algorithms are really harmful as well. And I think we're just scratching the surface with this. We haven't even talked about AI and the future of technology and the harms that that can bring that, you know,  will blow every parents’ mind if they knew what could potentially go on with their children there. So let's get through this. I don't know that it's going to work. But it can't be set and forget either. Once this ban is in place, the government's got a lot of work to do to keep up the job of protecting not only Australia. You talked about women, I know that that it’s a big issue for a lot of women as well, around deep fakes and all the issues that are going on online right now.

Journalist

The eSafety Commissioner today said that if kids move onto platforms on mass, she's anticipating that those platforms will tell the government will tell the eSafety Commissioner that kids are coming onto our platform, regulate us. Do you share that faith that those companies would come forward and say that?

McIntosh

Well, a lot of the companies I've spoken to also don't want kids exposed to harm content. And some of them, like YouTube, thought they were doing, you know, a good thing by Australian children by through education programs. I think they'll be quite highly sensitive to that sort of thing right now and will want to do the right thing. They're compelled to by law now. But again, let's see.

I'm concerned as well, I just quickly mentioned YouTube around the protections that I someone like YouTube put in place when a child verifies their age as being 13 or so. They do have algorithms and other things that do protect kids. I'm concerned about kids wandering around YouTube openly now and not having any of those protections at all, and whether the other side of the coin is that things could be worse for them.

Journalist

On the point you make about drip feeding and obviously we've got some new platforms added to the list today …

McIntosh

Yeah.

Journalist

In the press conference, just the Minister and the eSafety Commissioner spoke about potentially looking at or, you know, considering other platforms like Roblox, like Discord, like Twitch, like OpenAI Sora platforms. Do you see any, I guess, potential of a scope creep, of a mission creep here?

McIntosh

Of course.

Journalist

This is kind of drawn from, you know, I think a lot of people, most people, you know, do this and there's some questions about legislation, but most people would agree that Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, you know, those sort of platforms should be in there.

McIntosh

I think there's already a bit of scope creep with YouTube being included when, you know, some kids are using it for other purposes. And now with technology, some platforms that may have started out as a messaging service have gone into social media. So there is definitely that risk. And I don't know, it's a really tough one. There's no simple answer. I just don't think the ban in itself is going to be the, you know, sole solution to this big problem that we are facing as a society and what impact that it is having on Australian kids.

Journalist

So are you of the belief that YouTube should be excluded from this ban?

McIntosh

I felt like it was - it probably should have because of the nature of YouTube. And I said that at the time, people didn't even, you know, families, you know, kids have YouTube accounts and they're doing, you know, fun, great things on there. But it does come into the sort of point about scope creep and what's in there next and how do we police it? And what happens on December 10.

Journalist

Are you against other platforms being added on?

McIntosh

I just wish they would do it. I don’t know, it's just we're a month out and this is meant to work so if you hearing and you're families don't know what's in or out and platforms are only just finding out and they're meant to have the technology in place for age verification. I don't - it's not going down the right track.

Journalist

Just, and what's the - what do you think the impact will be for kids if platforms are getting added over time? Like if say on December eleventh the kid says, oh thank God, my favourite platform is still here and then it gets taken away and it happens again and again and again. What's the …  

McIntosh

Again like to your point, people just want to get around this they'll find a way around and there'll be frustration. I think it's going to be hard for a lot of children anyway to get off these platforms and I don't think one ad alone is going to help children and families and schools prepare for that.

Journalist

What about platforms that have been left off? Parents are concerned about Roblox.

McIntosh

Yeah.

Journalist

Do you have any concern that online predators could be driven to other platforms?

McIntosh

Of course, we already know they do. Like I've had, my son was on Roblox and had to, you know, put extra restrictions. He's older now, but extra restrictions in place because there is things that are not right going on on these platforms. But then again we're talking about a gaming platform versus social media platform and this is where it gets complex and is the whole thing going to work?

Journalist

It raises sort of a lot of questions like problems and issues that you're seeing. What at this point in time do you think is a solution? Obviously you said the intent is good. Do you still want to see the ban go through? Do you think that the deadline should be pushed out, give the government and these companies more time? What do you actually see as a viable path forward to solve …

McIntosh

I'm a little surprised that we keep getting drip fed and things aren't quite in place and there's still uncertainties around digital ID and age for verification. What can be used and the enforcement of this whole ban. So I think all I'm asking for the government right now is that they're doing everything they can to make sure kids are protected and it's going to work and it's not going to have a detrimental effect where the whole thing's falls over and everyone goes, well that's that, then.

Journalist

What do we do next for that previous question about the possibility of new apps being added after December 10 if they evolve their features and have more social media functions? Should there be a warning period for users, rather than like we're seeing tonight, overnight, two apps added? Like, do you think that there should be a warning period so that users are prepared for when their favourite app gets …

McIntosh

Yeah. You don't - I think so - I think a lot of kids are quite attached to certain apps. I think maybe the majority of them would be hopefully covered now, but there are still question marks. Just goes to the uncertainty of the whole thing, though, and, you know, any enforcement and what constitutes a social media platform. And I can't - I don't have a - don't have a glass ball that can look into the future, but I will see what comes after December 10. But if there's uncertainty now, I don't know how clear it's going to be after that time.

Journalist

Do you have concerns about, you know, the kind of prospect of a digital ID? Are you concerned about how the biometric data could be used?

McIntosh

Yep, of course, and where that data gets stored. So if you're compelled and the government's saying, the Minister's saying, I think she's using tricky language because she's saying that can't be the only way to show your age, but it is actually a way that can be enforced. So if you then have compelled to use a government identification, where is your data being stored? These are global companies and I think all Australians are legitimately concerned about storage of their data.

Journalist

Do you have a solution to that? Like, what's the opposition? Is there any kind of alternative.

McIntosh

It was never going to be for us, digital ID. It was, you know, when we came up with this policy back before the election, the technology was meant to solve part of the problem around age verification and there were pilots going on. But the government has set this deadline of December 10 and, you know, have they said it too early to try and get an electoral win amongst families, as opposed to the reality of whether this thing is going to work.

Journalist

Just into that Senate committee that's looking at the Optus tragedy. Sarah Hanson-Young, who chairs that, she's indicated that she would like to invite the Minister to appear before that. Of course, she's in the other place, so she can't be compelled. And to Singtel executives who are Australian based, would you welcome that? Would you be disappointed if they didn't front up?

McIntosh

I think this Optus Triple Zero outage has literally been a disaster since the very beginning. And we're hearing that Optus knew about what occurred, for hours and hours, and even the CEO before he alerted anyone. But there is a role to play for the government here.

The telco sector is the most regulated, one of the most regulated in the whole country. We put legislation through for a Custodian and then we found out through the Minister that the custodian was already in place since March. And what were they doing during this? The Minister has appointed ACMA, the regulator, to be the investigator into the outage. But ACMA, it is now known as part of the failed process.

So there is a role that the Minister has in all of this as the person who is responsible and she's not giving clear answers, including about when she found out about the outage. So I think the Minister should be fronting that inquiry and making it clear to the Australian people not only what occurred with this outage, but giving people confidence that this is not going to happen again. Because you’ve got to remember, people, lives are lost. The government should be doing everything it can, pulling every single lever it has to protect Australians.

Thanks, everyone.