Canberra's lobbying system is built for insiders only |
You might be surprised to learn that most of the people lobbying the federal government are exempt from our national lobbying rules.
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In the lead-up to this year's federal budget, proposed taxes on gas exports were rejected while gambling reforms were weakened after industry pressure. Both cases showed how effectively powerful industries can shape political outcomes behind closed doors to benefit their narrow commercial interests.
A tax on gas industry profits and stronger regulation of gambling advertising are both incredibly popular policy proposals that would benefit most Australians. So in a cost of living crisis, why are wealthy corporations winning outcomes that only benefit their financial bottom line?
Lobbying laws failing
One explanation is that Australia's national lobbying laws are profoundly broken. The system supposed to protect public interest decision-making from industry influence is riddled with structural failures that enable the state capture of government.
It's not that lobbying itself is illegitimate - many organisations, including unions, charities, religious groups and businesses seek to exercise their democratic right to speak with decision-makers and influence policy. However, when lobbying is conducted by extremely powerful and cashed-up vested interests - from gambling, to gas, to weapons industries - it creates a significant imbalance in our democracy. Numerous state anti-corruption bodies have identified that poorly regulated lobbying poses inherent risks of corruption, undue influence, and unfair access.
Right now, the ACT Integrity Commission is running an inquiry into lobbying and influence in the capital that further exposes how outdated federal lobbying laws have become. The inquiry will examine whether the........