Information for Lobbyists

On 13 May 2008 the Australian Government released the Code and established a Register of Lobbyists (the Register), which came into operation on 1 July 2008. The Register is maintained by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) and can be accessed via their website at: http://lobbyists.pmc.gov.au/lobbyistsregister/ .

The intent of the Code is to ensure that appropriate standards of probity and transparency are adhered to where individuals or organisations, acting on behalf of others, seek to influence Government representatives. Those covered by the Code must ensure they comply with the Code when engaging in lobbying activities.

The Code sets out requirements, both in relation to contacts with professional lobbyists and the post separation of employment of former public servants should they become lobbyists, and applies to:

Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (MOPS Act), APS employees, consultants and contractors engaged by an APS agency (where they are required to or likely to be required to have contacts with lobbyists) and members of the Australian Defence Force. The Code refers collectively to these groups as “Government representatives”.
Professional lobbyists who represent the interests of a third party as defined in the Code.

A list of exemptions to which the Code does not apply is provided in Section 3 of the Code and includes:

individuals making representations on behalf of relatives or friends on their behalf;
contacts with people who are directly employed by a company or an organisation and who make representations on behalf of that company or organisation;
technical, professional, or programme management contacts or co-operation between the APS and outside companies or organisations; and
charitable, religious or other organisations or funds that are endorsed as deductible gift recipients.

Principle of Engagement for Lobbyists with Government Representatives
Clause 8 of the Code outlines a range of principles that lobbyists must observe when engaging with Government representatives.

The principles require that lobbyists:

not engage in corrupt, dishonest or illegal activity;
make all reasonable effort to establish the truth of the information provided by the parties they represent;
not misrepresent or exaggerate the extent of their access to Government; and
avoid personal and political conflicts of interest.

The principles also require that, when making initial contact with Government Representatives, lobbyists inform the Government representatives that they are lobbyists, that they are currently registered, the third party interests they represent and the issues that the third party wishes the lobbyist to raise.

Page currency, Latest update: 19 July, 2010