ACT independent Senator David Pocock is launching a voluntary lobbyist register and inviting all federal parliamentarians to contribute. Photo: Region
Tired of waiting for the major parties to get serious about a lobbyist register for Parliament House, ACT Senator David Pocock is starting his own and asking all parliamentarians to get on board.
The independent has written to all federal MPs and Senators inviting them to voluntarily disclose on an online register who they sponsor for a lobbying pass.
Senator Pocock has been posting the details of who he sponsors for a parliamentary pass on his own website since he was first elected.
He is now proposing to maintain the voluntary register on a central, publicly accessible website so everyone can see who is accessing politicians and who is providing that access.
“Australians know that our lobbying system is broken; the definition of lobbyists is not working; the laws are so loose that it is a free-for-all in this place,” Senator Pocock said.
“At any one time, we have between 1500 and 2000 people with access-all-areas passes.
“We have no idea who they are, who gave them that pass, or what they’re in here lobbying for. We need to change that.
“And after introducing a private member’s bill to clean up lobbying and neither major party supporting it – and then the Labor Party filibustering my one hour of debate this year to ensure they didn’t have to vote against it – I’m launching a pass register.
“I’m asking all parliamentarians to actually disclose who you’re giving access to in this place.
“You work for the people that you were elected to represent and you should be telling them who you’re giving access to.
“It’s not too much to ask.”
So far, Nationals Senator Susan McDonald and independent MP Allegra Spender have replied to Senator Pocock’s letter agreeing to take part in the voluntary register.
During the last term of parliament, Senator Pocock introduced a private senator’s bill, drafted by the independent Member for Kooyong Monique Ryan, that would expand the definition of “lobbyist” to include in-house lobbyists, industry associations, and consultants with access to decision-makers.
The bill also seeks to legislate the Lobbying Code of Conduct; introduce real penalties for breaches of that code; and publish quarterly online reports showing who lobbyists are meeting with, for how long, and why.
It would extend to the publication of ministerial diaries, so the public can compare, cross-check and verify lobbying disclosures.
It also calls for independent oversight by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which would impose a ban on Ministers and senior political staff from lobbying for three years after leaving office.
“This register is just the first step in a much bigger set of lobbying reforms Australia needs,” Senator Pocock said.
“Last year’s Senate inquiry into lobbying highlighted just how broken our current system is and also demonstrated that many lobbyists also support a stronger one.
“Our weak lobbying laws mean vested interests are having an outsized impact, swamping the voices of community advocates.
“The impacts of this are felt in the lack of action on things like banning gambling advertising and collecting appropriate revenue from fossil fuels.
“This register is a small first step in starting to drive change.”
Senator Pocock would like a return to the days when the names of two sponsoring parliamentarians were printed on lobbyists passes for Parliament House for all to see.
But he doesn’t expect that to happen.
“I’ve asked questions about that,” he said.
“About when that was removed and the reasons for that.”
While the voluntary lobbyist register will be published online from October, Senator Pocock has stressed that his move doesn’t mean he is anti-lobbying.
“Lobbying does have a legitimate role to play in our political system. But to protect the strength of our democracy, lobbying needs to be transparent and well-regulated,” he said.
“People with sponsored passes enjoy enormous privilege and access to our most senior decision makers.
“It is not unreasonable for the Australians those parliamentarians have been elected to represent to know who enjoys that access, and who gave it to them, and I hope my parliamentary colleagues will participate.”
