Page 3220 - Week 10 - Thursday, 25 September 2014
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Members have heard me on my commitment to lead an open government and have witnessed numerous initiatives in this regard. I have commented that our community rightly expects transparency and open decision-making from elected representatives. An ACT register of lobbyists adds another example to our modernised codes of conduct to ensure high standards of probity in public life. In this context, I am glad that our integrity framework is being further enhanced and expanded today.
Members would be aware that political lobbyists’ influence on the democratic process is a source of comment and concern around the world and in Australia. Whilst lobbying is a legitimate activity and one which plays an important part in our democracy, it is only right that individuals and groups should seek to press their views on elected officials. But with that in mind I reiterate my longstanding view that an ACT lobbyists register should be applicable to all MLAs and not just ministers and their staff. This is a view which has been supported by the Assembly Ethics and Integrity Adviser’s advice to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure during its work regarding the scoping and development of an ACT register of lobbyists. I further believe that, in the interest of transparency, probity and accountability, the register should also apply to all staff employed under the Public Sector Management Act 1994.
This continuing resolution picks up from my previous motion which sought the Clerk to develop an ACT register of lobbyists and supporting guidelines with reference to the model guidelines recommended by the committee in its June 2014 report on lobbyist regulation, and that the Clerk table these for consideration of the Assembly by 18 September this year. Further, the motion sought that the Clerk consider whether it would be viable for the ACT to recognise lobbyists registered under the commonwealth government register of lobbyists. I understand that following the investigation of this avenue it was assessed not to be viable, among other things, due to the size of the commonwealth’s register. The motion also sought a commencement date and that MLAs and their staff should not knowingly allow themselves to be the subject of lobbying activities following that commencement date.
Finally, I sought that, following commencement of the register, the ACT lobbying code of conduct be adopted as a continuing resolution of the Assembly and that the resolution have effect from the date of its agreement by the Assembly and continue in force until amended or repealed by this or a subsequent Assembly.
The continuing resolution today is a result of the work that has been undertaken by the standing committee and the Clerk in the development of the ACT register of lobbyists and guidelines. It provides specific details relating to the operation of the register, which I can outline today.
Initially, the motion provides a succinct definition of a lobbyist, lobbying activities and a public official. It outlines in detail those required to be registered, those ineligible to be registered and those not required to be registered, and provides details of the public content of the register, specifically for a person, a partnership and a company.
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