Transcript - Sky News Politics Now - 26 November 2025

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

26 November 2025

Transcript 

Sky News Politics Now with Tom Connell

Topics: Social media ban; digital ID; leadership.

E&EO … 

Tom Connell

Joining me live is Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh. Your party likes to talk about freedom. What do you make of this legal challenge?

Melissa McIntosh

I don't have the full details of the challenge as it's merging and obviously it'll be a court case, but I'm not surprised that people are challenging this. And to hear just - you know, a couple of weeks ago, and I've been warning about this, that digital ID will need to be used to verify ages, which means these big multinational companies are collecting people's data through a third party operator, there's just too many questions and people don't like it. I'm not surprised. Kids who might be on YouTube doing their thing, you know, are challenging.

Connell

We had someone on the program saying, well, this is the best way young people can participate in any sort of political debate and have their voices heard. Is that a fair point to make? Do you have sympathy for that, or do you hope this challenge fails?

McIntosh

No, of course I have sympathy for young people who want to be involved online. This is not an easy thing, and I have to go back to the fact that the Coalition did support the ban. But ever since then I've come into this role, I've questioned whether it's going to work or not. I think there's a high risk of failure on this and, you know, the absolute, you know, disgust that Australians have that they've been winked into having to provide digital ID. So there are many aspect …

Connell

So, when you say having to provide it, that's not the government necessarily enforcing that. There were multiple options for each social media company on how this would be enforced.

McIntosh

The - and I've spoken to many of the companies and even meeting with Meta, they've got a third party provider. They're very cautious if they, if somebody might not meet what their age verification face technology is saying, then they'll ask for your driver's licence or your birth certificate. You've got to remember in that trial was 34%, I think risk of getting it wrong, which is reasonably high. So, the age verification technology has been rushed. The government said there would be no compelling for digital ID. Yet here we are. As you said, a couple of week out …

Connell

The government itself is not saying you have to give a digital ID.

McIntosh

The government has set the legislation. The government oversees the eSafety Commissioner who does have the powers to compel digital ID. She said it to me herself and then said, but I don't intend to use it.

Connell

Right, so where do we sit? Does the Coalition support this or not?

McIntosh

We support protecting Australian children. We want this to work in the interests of Australian kids. But with platforms only still being dribbled in, now with digital ID, and court cases, there's a high risk that it won't fulfil its intent, which was to protect Australian kids.

Connell

Could you say specifically what you do differently when you say it could fail? Because most experts say if big tech companies want this to work, they will make it work.

McIntosh

Well, I think the setting of the date of December 10 and rushing it through and having a lot of PR exercises along the way like going to New York and announcing our success before it even happened. So, a real focus on the execution of it.

Connell

The date. Okay, so you delay it.

McIntosh

Well, I probably wouldn't going back in time, if we won the election, there's no point in - you know, we don't have the benefits of the full extent of government departments. We barely have staff thanks to the government's cuts of staff. So, the work that we can do, of course, the dates, of course ensuring that the technology is appropriate and of course ensuring that people aren't compelled to use digital ID. They're the main things.

Connell

Right, but isn't that again, within the means of social media companies? They have many ways of detecting people's ages. If they want to do that, they don't have to.

McIntosh

You've got to remember some of these social media companies are only getting told now that they're included in. And I'm not standing up for the big tech companies at all. But being told like a couple of weeks out, you're included and you must do everything in your power to ensure - get kids off and kick them off, that's not very reasonable or realistic.

Connell

What about the case though, that even there could be a company that marks itself as Facebook for kids and then that will get brought into this. There will be companies or social media platforms added to this all the time. They’ll just have to adapt to it like that.

McIntosh

I actually am probably now more concerned about what's coming down the line with AI and technology that we haven't even thought about yet. And kids’ access to that and moving off social media and exploring what other options there are. So, there are big concerns.

Connell

So unintended consequences.

McIntosh

Unintended consequences.

Connell

That would happen even if the - so, so what does that mean? Do you support it or not? Because if there are unintended consequences you think are more concerning, does that mean the social media ban is now a bad idea?

McIntosh

Well, these are things that have happened even since, you know, we went to the election. AI is moving so quickly and discovering in the news recently that kids have best friends that are AI bots. So, they are concerning things that are coming down the line.

Connell

So, technology advancements and I suppose the prospect a kid gets a VPN.

McIntosh

Yeah. Working around it.

Connell

So regardless of how well it's rolled out. Because it will drive some people to other things.

McIntosh

Yeah.

Connell

You're now saying maybe the whole idea is not a good one?

McIntosh

I'm saying to you, we support the intent, and we did support the legislation. We, you know, we were part of - it was Peter Dutton as Opposition Leader that wanted this and we all, we all backed that. I wasn't the Shadow Communications Minister at the time. Perhaps I would have had a different stance if I was and made sure that everything, that the unintended consequences weren't going to come to fruition so much. But the intent to protect kids is good. It just feels like it's transforming into something else. When adults are compelled to use digital ID, that is a big problem for many Australians, and I bet many of your viewers.

Connell

When you say adults compelled, I mean someone, I guess that looks – is 18 and might look young.

McIntosh

You look pretty young, Tom.

Connell

I think I'll be alright.

McIntosh

We’ll see.

Connell

If the camera zooms in, the wrinkles are there from the children. But, just on this matter, it sounds like you're wavering as to whether you even think this is a good idea.

McIntosh

I think the point is I'm concerned about its failure and then what happens after that.

Connell

But let's say it's successful in what happens. 

McIntosh

Oh, if it's successful, great. Let's celebrate success.

Connell

But you’re saying the unintended consequences might be worse than the positive impact of the ban.

McIntosh

But do you know that the government can't even say right now what success is or what failure is? And they're actually like publicly declaring that there will be holes in this and it might not go right. So, what's the point then? What is the point then, Tom, if the intent of protecting kids and it fails?

Connell

Well, because nothing's 100% right. So, you can have a rule saying children under 18 can't drink, but if 10% are still drinking, it doesn't mean failure.

McIntosh

Let's see. I really hope so and I hope it works.

Connell

Right, so I understand that, but you seem to have genuine reservations now, on the cusp of this, as you say, because of AI developments and so on, whether this is a good idea. So, does the Coalition still support this or not?

McIntosh

We support the intent of protecting kids and I've met with families. It's really heartbreaking. So, yes, we support the legislation.

Connell

So, you support the legislation?

McIntosh

Yes, but I don't support the rollout of it or what the government's done. How do you support the intent …

Connell

But when you say the unintended consequences element, are you sort of reserving the right to – if a month in you're hearing stories about the unintended consequences, then you might ...

McIntosh

Of course …

Connell

Pull support?

McIntosh

Well, we’ll measure that at the time. I'm very alert to it on every aspect of it, including the implementation. And I've met with stakeholders, I've met with the platforms, I'm speaking to families. So, I am right across this issue, and you'll know when I know if things aren't going right.

Connell

So, you sort of - you have more doubts about it now? Supporting it for now, but some serious doubts.

McIntosh

Correct.

Connell

I understand what you say about Labor's rollout, but even about the whole concept of it's successful itself because of where kids might go …

McIntosh

Tom, I'm even concerned by the fact that kids can now roam openly on YouTube and those protections, the age protections that were in place by YouTube for under 13s and now no longer exist. Kids will still go on to YouTube. So, what can they see now? Those protections are no longer in place and I'm not standing up for another big tech company. But these are the unintended consequences.

Connell

Okay. I mean I think the YouTube element is what you can see when you're not logged in is pretty restricted. But we've given that a fair ventilation.

Might just ask you quickly - had 40 of your colleagues, your dearest friends for drinks on Monday. Looking to establish a bit of support long term. What’s that about?

McIntosh

The drinks - I love Christmas, and I invited actually every colleague in the Coalition, both Senators and House of Reps. And it's a busy time of year, so that part of it is probably a bit more of a media story, but …

Connell

Christmas person, rather than a gather round person.

McIntosh

No - and I enjoyed, and I had great colleagues there from The Nats and my Lib colleagues and I've publicly expressed my ambitions for the future and where I want to take Australia.

Connell

Just clearly what they are. Because you spoke to The Australian about this, you are saying, yes, I do want to be leader one day.

McIntosh

Yeah.

Connell

Is that clear?

McIntosh

Yes, I do. I love Australia. I love our country. I'm very passionate about our people, including middle Australia, who are feeling very let down by the major parties right now. You know, we saw today inflation rise, higher energy prices, really suffering. We need to have pragmatic policies that speak to them.

Connell

Let down by the major parties. You're a member of one of them.

McIntosh

Well yeah, but that doesn't mean we can't change things. Let's focus ...

Connell

Your party's letting down Australians right now.

McIntosh

No, I know you want me to say that. I'm saying Australians are let down by the direction of our country right now. And I think it's time for us to focus back on middle Australia, including people in western Sydney.

Connell

Melissa McIntosh, appreciate your time today. Thank you.

McIntosh

Thanks, Tom.