Melissa McIntosh

Melissa Iris McIntosh (; born 24 August 1977) is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Liberal Party and was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2019 federal election, running in the New South Wales seat of Lindsay.

Early life McIntosh was born on 24 August 1977 in Penrith, New South Wales. Her father Edmund Grah immigrated to Australia in the late 1950s from Graz, Austria. His parents and sister had been killed in World War II.

McIntosh attended Blaxland High School but experienced bullying at the school, particularly around her performing arts and dance talent. She later switched to the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts. She then studied journalism, public relations and video production at the University of Western Sydney, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Communications. From 2011 to 2015, she worked at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney as head of partnerships and director of events. She then served as chief of staff to Assistant Treasurer Alex Hawke until 2016, when she joined Wentworth Community Housing as executive manager (communications).

McIntosh is a member of the centre-right faction of the Liberal Party.

Member of Parliament In November 2018, McIntosh won Liberal preselection for the Division of Lindsay. Lindsay, centred on Penrith in western Sydney, has always been considered a key marginal seat. She was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2019 federal election, defeating Australian Labor Party (ALP) candidate Diane Beamer, who had defeated the incumbent ALP member Emma Husar for preselection.

She was re-elected in 2022, with a swing towards her of +1.30% and 2025, where she faced a swing against her towards the Labor Party of -3.33%. In both elections, she survived heavy swings against the Liberals in metropolitan seats. In 2022, she was one of only six Liberals holding a Sydney-based seat; in 2025 she was one of only three.

McIntosh was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Energy Affordability; Shadow Minister for Communications; and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney during the Dutton shadow ministry.

Following the 2025 federal election, McIntosh retained her portfolio as the Shadow Minister for Communications, and also became the Shadow Minister of Women in the Ley shadow ministry.

Senior Leadership and Shadow Cabinet (2026) In February 2026, under the new leadership of Angus Taylor, McIntosh was promoted to expanded roles within this senior leadership team. Her current portfolios include Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services, Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and Shadow Minister for Women.

Personal life McIntosh has three children with her husband Stuart McIntosh, a former Olympic canoeist. They met at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She has sometimes used the name "Melissa Grah-McIntosh".

McIntosh lives in Mount Riverview in New South Wales.