TV interview with Assistant Minister McBride, News24 Weekend NewsDay – 6 September 2026

Media event date: 6 September 2026 Date published: 7 September 2026 Media type: General public JAYNIE SEAL, HOST: Returning to one of our top stories, and the federal government's social media reform is focused on preventing harm on platforms and the impact of algorithms. For more, joining us live is Assistant Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Minister Emma McBride.

Minister McBride, thank you so much for joining us. And certainly we're going to be hearing more of what's going to be on the board and on the table next week. And we're hearing about users getting potentially a choice of in and out options, or opt-in choices, I should say.

But what are your thoughts? What can you tell us in regards to algorithms and what could be on the table? ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: I understand, Jaynie, that the Minister is likely to be introducing legislation to the Parliament this week, building on our world leading social media age restrictions that have been now introduced in other parts of the globe.

What we know is if a young man is on social media today, within 23 minutes misogynistic content will be fed to him by an algorithm. We know there's a growing body of evidence of the harm that this is causing in our society, including to young women. So as the minister responsible for mental health and suicide prevention, I want to see this legislation supported so that we can work to reduce harm, particularly to the most vulnerable young Australians.

And we heard the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, today talking about the algorithms, and he mentioned it could potentially censor the internet. What would you say to those comments? As a mental health worker myself and having seen distress escalate to crisis and possible suicidal ideation, he needs to be more responsible.

That's grossly irresponsible to talk like that about these reforms. We know that algorithms are causing harm. There is a growing body of evidence that algorithms are causing harm to young people and all Australians, and we need to make sure that this is safety by design, that big tech is responsible for social harm, and I'd like to see the Coalition and across the Parliament support for this leading legislation.

What do you think parents, carers, friends, the community could do more of? Well, what we're trying to do, Jaynie, is to support parents and carers. I heard from a parent last week whose 14-year-old had tried to die by suicide.

I went to an event last week for Charlotte's Wish of the wonderful parents, Matt and Kelly, who are working to raise awareness and to make sure that what happened to their beautiful daughter, Charlotte, doesn't happen. We need to provide support to parents and caregivers, and one way we can do that as a government is by reducing predatory algorithms and the harm that it can put on to young Australians.

So what we can do as a government is support parents and caregivers in protecting their young people. Because I know personally as a parent, telling your child to get off your phone and the devices, you can only go a certain length, can't you? I mean, you're seeing them for not 24 hours a day and whether they're with their friends, they might hold their devices and do things, but we can only do our best.

But it is, as you were saying, it's support, isn't it, to help each other, and for kids that certainly know how to navigate the computers perhaps much more than us adults. And this is why it's so important that we introduce legislation that builds on our world-leading social media age restrictions. We know that more than 5 million accounts from young people have been deactivated.

We’ve strengthened the powers of the eSafety Commissioner. We're looking to bolster the fines to big tech. And this is really, Jaynie, fundamentally about big tech, social media companies being responsible for social harm.

This is about safety by design. This is so that parents and caregivers have much more peace of mind and young people are protected online. And we know these big tech companies have a lot of money.

Do you think a fine is really going to prevent any change with them? I think the fine is part of it. Introducing fines that are multi-million dollars or more than $100 million will help to encourage safety by design.

This is in addition to other measures that we've taken, and we've seen around the world that when big tech are fined through the courts or otherwise, that it does start to modify their behaviour. This is about social media companies being responsible for social harm, and I want to see this legislation introduced as soon as possible and supported across the Parliament.

All right, World Suicide Prevention Day is next week, and this year's global theme is changing the narrative on suicide. And you've kindly offered to announce for the first time on News24 what your government is going to be doing on World Suicide Prevention Day. Jaynie, for the first time in Australia, we're going to be illuminating the facade of the Parliament on Thursday 10 September, World Suicide Prevention Day, joining action globally to reduce stigma, to encourage conversations and to change the narrative.

We know that in Australia today, nine Australians die by suicide and around 150 Australians attempt to take their own life. That's more than 3300 Australians each year. But they're more than statistics, Jaynie.

They’re my friend Graeme who died by suicide nearly 10 years ago. They're my colleague Rami who died by suicide. Every Australian knows someone who has died by suicide, but there is still a lot of stigma that persists and people struggle to have those conversations.

So by illuminating the Parliament, by drawing our national attention to this issue, we're really hoping to break stigma, encourage conversations and save lives. And I'm really sorry to hear about your losses. And most people have somebody who's lost someone or close to knowing someone.

And I believe over 3000 Australians lose their lives to suicide every year, and you mentioned your stats as well. And a really interesting point that you did mention about having those conversations, because they are very, very tough. What else can you provide us in terms of more information?

Of course, World Suicide Day will be looking to see more on what we can perhaps do to our loved ones or for our loved ones. But, Minister, what can we do in terms of advice? I would like to, as the theme of World Suicide Prevention Day is changing the narrative, is to encourage Australians to have an open conversation.

It can seem very confronting, but one of the most safe things you can do is ask someone, are they suicidal? Do they have a suicide plan? And that is quite a confronting conversation to have, but it's one of the best things that you can do to make sure that someone is safe.

Our government is investing in support so people can have training through Mental Health First Aid or Accidental Counsellor through Lifeline to make sure that people are better equipped to have these conversations. So I would encourage people, if you're part of a sports club or a community group, to have a look at what training is available to equip you and others better to have those conversations.

A very important topic indeed and a big week in Parliament. We look forward to hearing more. Thank you so much, Assistant Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Minister Emma McBride.

The Hon Emma McBride MP Mental health and suicide prevention Accessibility We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past and present. © Commonwealth of Australia