<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/fossil-fuel-lobby-exploits-loopholes-to-have-outsized-impact-on-australian-politics-study-finds/>
"The fossil fuel industry should be treated like the tobacco industry in any
overhaul of the federal parliament’s lobbying rules, the Greens say after a
report found “loopholes” in the current system failed to address most influence
peddling.
Citing the paper by the Centre for Public Integrity, an independent research
institute focussed on transparency in government, Greens Senator Steph
Hodgins-May says corporate and industry lobbyists outmatch NGOs and the public
with access to decision makers, and this is contributing to eroding public
trust in democracy.
“I’ve only been in parliament for a year now, it’s the same under-resourced,
community advocates that knock on the doors of the Greens and the
Independents,” she said.
“So often they are knocking on the doors of people who don’t need convincing
because they can’t get meetings with the people they need to convince, because
they can’t get access.
“We want to clean up politics and level the playing field – put people, our
environment and our planet before polluters.”
The paper found multiple issues, including the continued use of “success fees”
– cash bonuses that reward lobbyists for having achieved a result – at the
federal level even though they are banned in many states and territories.
These cash bonuses are considered to encourage unethical behaviour and have
been banned in most jurisdictions except the Australian Capital Territory, the
Northern Territory and federally.
Another issue was the stream of former cabinet ministers, MPs and or staffers
taking jobs in industry after their time in government, with the report finding
two in five registered lobbyists federally were once associated with a
political party.
However, the definition of a “lobbyist” was so narrow under current rules it
did not cover the bulk of lobbying that was often unpaid and which takes place
through informal relationships. For example, these may include membership of
the same sports team, or personal friendships between individuals.
“The vast majority of lobbyists are not captured by the federal lobbying
register,” the paper said.
“Current rules only require third-party lobbyists (consultants retained to
lobby on behalf of clients) to be registered, excluding those in-house
corporate lobbyists who engage in the majority of lobbying. As a result,
details of such lobbying are not disclosed to the public.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
