The Integrity Commission has detailed the information which would be made public under its proposed reforms to the framework governing lobbying in Tasmania.
Under the new system public officials – both elected and employed – would need to disclose when they have been lobbied.
They would also need to disclose the name of the person who lobbied them, when or how the discussion took place, and the topic of the lobbying.
Integrity Commission CEO Michael Easton said the reforms would be a significant win for transparency in Tasmania.
“We are taking the opportunity to ensure lobbying of our State parliamentarians and senior officials is in keeping with good practice in other areas across Australia and internationally,” Mr Easton said.
“It is important that the public has access to information about lobbying activity, so that we can have confidence that decisions are being made in the public interest.
“The lobbying framework we are proposing will mean Tasmanians have better access to information about how lobbying influences decisions made by our elected officials and senior bureaucrats, and politics more generally.
“Information about what lobbying activity has occurred would be made available on the Integrity Commission website, in close to real time.”
Under the new system lobbyists would also have to declare if they have made a political donation, above the Tasmanian declaration threshold.
Finally, elected officials will be restricted from accepting meetings with lobbyists who have provided them with political advice during election campaigns.
Consultation on the Commission’s proposed lobbying model is now open to the general public, and is available at www.integrity.tas.gov.au.
Media release by Michael Easton Chief Executive Officer
Opinion piece by Greg Melick Chief Commissioner (PDF, 113.9 KB)
Media contact
Lachlan Thompson, Team Leader Research and Evaluation
lachlan.thompson@integrity.tas.gov.au
Ph: 1300 720 289