A new Commissioner role is to be created to regulate the lobbying of Government Officials following an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) last year.
Accepting all the recommendations in ICAC’s report Investigation into the regulation of lobbying, access and influence in NSW, Premier Dominic Perrottet said the State supported all 27 recommendations directed to the Government.
“The Government currently has a strong model to regulate lobbying activity and these changes will ensure we have the strongest lobbying integrity measures in the country,” Mr Perrottet said.
He said that along with the creation of a dedicated NSW Lobbying Commissioner, key reforms included renaming the Lobbyists Code of Conduct to the ‘Lobbying Code of Conduct’, which would impose standards and obligations on public officials about how lobbying proposals were received, considered and determined.
“NSW public officials are already required to act impartially in the public interest when carrying out their public duties, including when being lobbied, or making decisions after being lobbied, by professional lobbyists,” Mr Perrottet said.
“These obligations are imposed by various sources.”
He said the State would consult the NSW Electoral Commission about providing it with the function of promoting compliance with current obligations, including publishing guidance material to assist public officials discharging their obligations when being lobbied.
The Premier said reforms would also see all third-party and in-house lobbyists required to register with the Lobbying Regulator.
The State’s 12-page response to the ICAC Report can be accessed at this PS News link and further information on the Report can be accessed in the PS News article.
