Weekend Today with Michael Atkinson and Lizzie Pearl - 27 June 2026

Melissa McIntosh MP
Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services
Shadow Minister for the NDIS
Shadow Minister for Women
Federal Member for Lindsay

27 June 2026

Transcript

Channel Nine – Weekend Today

Topics: Labor’s bad Budget, NSW drug driving changes, Boomers vs Gen Z parking technique

E&OE

Michael Atkinson 

Let's bring in today's talkers, Shadow Minister for NDIS, Melissa McIntosh, and our very own Lizzie Pearl. Good morning to you both. Melissa, what do you reckon? Will Australians be forgetting about this budget and their anger in time?

Melissa McIntosh 

Well, it's a bad budget, and Jim Chalmers is acting like it's going to be a bad breakup too. The Australian people were lied to by the Prime Minister, as he said, “I've said it for the 50th time,” and I think they're not going to forget. Australians don't forget bad breakups, and they don't forget being lied to by their Prime Minister. And I'm here at the Nepean River, and we've got a whole heap of small businesses just in front of me that you can't see. I was down here last week before I went to Parliament, and they're really angry, red hot angry with this Government. They've worked all their lives to build their businesses, and they want to pass it on to their children, or if they want to sell their business and retire, yet they're not going to have the money they thought they would, because of this Government's tax grab. So bad breakup, a bad budget, and a bad outcome for everyday Australians.

Michael Atkinson 

Yeah, it does feel a little bit like wishful thinking from the Treasurer. Lizzie, goes without saying, Aussies are struggling with home groceries with fuel costs, all of those costs of living things. So, how does the Government move on from this, or do you think it's going to follow them right through the next election?

Lizzie Pearl 

I think the writing's on the wall. It's going to be a very difficult run up to the election for the Government. They did put forward this difficult budget with some run-up time to the election, in the hope that they could turn things around, but look, it's going to be a very difficult thing to do. We're going to need to see some significant changes, and possibly some back flips, and they don't go down well either. So, tough spot, very tough spot.

Michael Atkinson 

I mean, the Opposition already rolling out the campaign that this Government lies to you, so that's just more fodder for them, isn't it? The New South Wales government, if we move on, is under fire this morning over its plans to exempt medical cannabis users from drug driving offences, with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting the laws aren't backed by evidence. Melissa, these changes - they already seemed flawed in the eyes of many, many people. Does this surprise you that it's not backed up by evidence?

Melissa McIntosh 

No, it's not really all that surprising, but it sounds like a field day for lawyers of how you determine medicinal use versus everyday use, but it's a really tricky one. People shouldn't be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but I think it could be a potentially messy one for the government here. It's particularly, again, you need to have your policy announcements backed by evidence and backed by research, because otherwise Australians just really don't like it and reject it outright.

Michael Atkinson 

Yeah, I mean, I totally understand the need to look at this for the people who genuinely need medicinal cannabis, Lizzie, but the research suggests that 45% of medicinal, medical cannabis users get behind the wheel within six hours of using the drug. Do you think that these changes could maybe be exploited?

Lizzie Pearl 

Well, that's the difficulty, isn't it? And we need to say that you know, medicinal cannabis is very helpful for people who need it medically, but there needs to be some personal responsibility here. I mean, a lot of prescription drugs you should not take and get behind the wheel either. There's no test for that, and cannabis can stay in your bloodstream for a lot longer after the effects have worn off, whether you're taking it recreationally or for medical purposes. So, I'd like to see some more research, and I'd like to see some laws toughening up, because people want to know what they can and can't do. Most people are not setting out to break the law when they take medicinal cannabis and get behind the wheels. So, I think some clarity, some medical research, and some more, I guess, laws that are easier to follow will make everyone a bit happier in this situation.

Michael Atkinson 

Diving a bit deeper into some of the evidence to make a more informed decision, I guess. And finally, this morning, a new debate is raging over a different kind of reverse psychology. Social research from firm McCrindle finding that while Gen Z likes to reverse park, Gen X and boomers prefer to swing the front of their cars into parking spots. Melissa, how do you park? Do you side with Gen Z on this one? Are you reverse in or nose in?

Melissa McIntosh 

I hate, because I'm Gen X, that I'm now lumped in with boomers. Somebody called me a boomer the other day and it broke my heart.

Michael Atkinson 

You didn't answer the question! How do you park, Melissa? 

Melissa McIntosh 

I actually, I feel like you're on show every time you do a reverse. I love to reverse park, so I don't know, that might confuse the research a little bit, but parking, it says a lot about you doesn’t it, if you're straight or you're happy to jump out and you’re across the line.

Michael Atkinson 

Lizzie, what about you?

Lizzie Pearl 

I don't know. Maybe I like to reverse in, because then you can get out quicker.

Michael Atkinson 

I'm going to call you on that, when you’re parking here.

Lizzie Pearl 

Oh I always go nose in, don’t I? I'm a liar. I'm a liar.

Michael Atkinson 

Are you a boomer?

Lizzie Pearl 

Just in a hurry in the mornings to come and see you.

Michael Atkinson 

I think it's very situational, right?

Lizzie Pearl 

Totally, totally.

Michael Atkinson 

Our family has two cars. Our bigger car is much easier to reverse park, like it's very hard to get the nose in if you try and go nose first. The smaller car you can take or leave it, but also if you've got time to reverse park when you're getting somewhere, I do that. If I'm in a rush, nose in. If I want a quick exit, like there's so many -

Lizzie Pearl 

All the big issues here. Exactly.

Michael Atkinson 

Big issues. Are you trying to wrap me up?

Lizzie Pearl 

Yeah I’m trying to wrap you up! This is a boring story.

Michael Atkinson 

Go and practice your reverse parking, everyone. Melissa, Lizzie, great to talk to you. All the big issues. Thank you very much.