Independent ACT senator David Pocock has accused the major parties of “kicking the can down the road” on reforms to overhaul Australia’s “weak and ineffective” federal lobbying system after an inquiry suggested minor tweaks.
The Liberal-majority report, chaired by Tasmanian Liberal senator Richard Colbeck, recommended the federal government launch a review into the existing lobbyist code of conduct with the view to expanding who is covered by it.
Both major parties also supported the revival of unescorted day passes, with Labor’s comments explaining the “unnecessary time” escorting visitors comes “at the expense of other parliamentary business”.
But the inquiry’s report fell short of backing calls by independents, the Greens and transparency experts to proactively publish ministerial diaries, and reveal the identities of sponsored pass holders and the politicians who sponsor them.
The spotlight has been on those with unfettered access to Parliament House without an escort – and without being formally registered as a lobbyist with the federal government – after a push from independents and the Greens to improve political transparency and accountability.
The federal lobbying system has long been considered weak compared with international and state and territory standards, while an audit report in 2020 found the federal government was largely powerless in its efforts to oversee lobbyist activities.
The number of “orange” sponsored pass holders in Parliament – those who can enter the building unaccompanied and many of whom are lobbyists – has soared to more than 2,000 with around three-quarters of those having been issued since July 2022.
Meanwhile, the register of third-party lobbyists contains the details of 346 lobbyist companies, including 695 individual lobbyists who represent 2,374 clients.
Pocock said the committee was provided with solutions to fix the “fatally flawed” system but still failed to offer up any substantial improvements.
The independent senator called for a series of changes, including an expanded definition to include in-house lobbyists, increased penalties for breaches of the code of conduct as well as the publishing of ministerial diaries on a monthly basis and the details of sponsored pass holders.
“We’ve got a code with such a narrow definition of lobbying that 80% of lobbyists aren’t even captured by it and in the unlikely event someone is found to breach it, the penalty is so light as to offer no deterrent at all,” Pocock said on Tuesday afternoon.
“The professionalisation of lobbying in this country into what is now a multi-billion dollar industry requires improved regulation, and the time to make those changes is now.”
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The Greens welcomed the report’s recommendations but were disappointed Liberal and Labor senators did not advocate for the publication of ministerial diaries as part of increased transparency measures.
Greens senator and committee member Larissa Waters also suggested the “cooling off” period for former ministers and staffers who become lobbyists be increased from 18 months to five years.
Last November, the member for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, introduced a private member’s bill promising to “clean up politics” by enforcing stronger rules around lobbying, including making ministers’ diaries publicly available.
On Tuesday, Ryan welcomed the report but said it did “not go far enough”.
“I call on Labor to listen to the millions of voters who called for greater integrity in politics at the last election by improving lobbying regulations. If those voters are not listened to, they will make their voices heard loud and clear at the next election,” she said.