09/2008
2 April 2008
Cabinet Secretary, Senator John Faulkner, today released an exposure draft of the Lobbying Code of Conduct. The Code will underpin the operation of Register of Lobbyists.
Lobbying is a legitimate part of the democratic process, but there is a public expectation that lobbying activities will be carried out ethically and transparently.
The proposed Register will allow Ministers and other Government representatives who are approached by lobbyists to establish whose interests the lobbyist represents so informed judgments can be made about the outcome they are seeking to achieve.
This will be the first formal lobbyists register ever adopted by a Federal Government.
Because the Government is breaking new ground in this area, it will release an exposure draft of the Code to allow all lobbyists and interested persons to have the opportunity to comment on the rules for contact between lobbyists and Government representatives – Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, ministerial staff, Australian Public Service employees and members of the Australian Defence Force. Comments on the exposure draft should be provided by 16 April 2008.
The draft Code follows closely the model adopted by the Western Australian Government. The Government intends that registration will commence after Cabinet approval of the Code following consideration of comments received.
Adequate time will be allowed for provision of the required details for the Register. From a well-publicised date, lobbyists who represent third party clients will need to be on the Register or they will not be able to lobby Government representatives. It will not, however, confer a right to access by lobbyists to Ministers and other Government representatives.
The Register will be administered by the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and will be hosted on the Department’s web site.
Comments on the draft Code can be provided
| by email to: | |
| or by mail to: | The Secretary |
| or by fax to: | The Secretary Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 02 6271 5776 |
The draft Code is available on the website of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet at www.dpmc.gov.au/consultation/index.cfm.
| Media Contacts: |
Website: |
| Media Adviser - Colin Campbell - 0407 787 181 | www.cabinetsecretary.gov.au www.smos.gov.au |