Page 334 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
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covers you if you work for a recognised lobbying firm, but if you are an in-house lobbyist for a large organisation I understand you are not covered by it. I think this raises interesting questions because, to my mind, there is not much difference between those two individuals. These are the sorts of questions that I think the committee will need to work through. I will look forward to those conversations.
MR COE (Ginninderra) (4.52): I move the amendment in my name to Mr Rattenbury’s amendment:
Omit “May 2014”, substitute “June 2014”.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Lawder): The question is that Mr Coe’s amendment to Mr Rattenbury’s amendment be agreed to. Mr Coe, before we continue, could you explain to the chamber what your amendment is?
MR COE: My amendment seeks to replace “May 2014” with “June 2014”.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Thank you.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (4.53): And a fine amendment it is, too—one of the finest, might I say. It might actually get up. I think it is one of the more succinct speeches we have heard from Mr Coe. It was quite eloquent. It is good to see that there is a moment of harmony breaking out here in the Assembly.
I think that some good points were made by the Chief Minister and also Mr Rattenbury. This is an interesting issue to look at. Certainly, this has been an issue looked at in other parliaments. I have a report from the government administration committee from the New Zealand House of Representatives which considered a lobbying disclosure bill. The government administration committee, when they looked at it, recommended that it not be passed. I am happy to table this document, when I have finished reading it, for the information of members.
Some of the points raised in it—and I will quote from it—is that it would affect everyday dealings with the public by members of the parliament and could discourage constituents from engaging with members. It could capture, for example, a person contacting their member of parliament—
It being 45 minutes after the commencement of Assembly business, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 77. Ordered that the time allotted to Assembly business be extended by 30 minutes.
MR HANSON: The report goes on:
There are also significant differences in the decision-making spheres of Ministers and of other members of Parliament. Members who are not Ministers do not have executive decision-making powers, and the ability to individually decide the fate of legislation.
It goes on further:
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