New rules governing lobbyists in Queensland’s Parliament have been announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, hailing the arrangements as helping to strengthen the already strongest laws in Australia.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Government did not “just accept these changes: We embrace them!”
The Premier said the aim of the rules was always to do better and the changes ensure even greater openness and transparency.
She said the changes include:
* Everyone working for a lobbying firm will need to be registered, including lobbyists, consultants, advisers, strategic communications and marketing advisers, in fact everyone but administrative staff;
* Lobbyists are only to make contact through the Chief of Staff of an office and all meetings will have to be requested in writing;
* The Chief of Staff can delegate to a senior adviser at their discretion: and
* The Integrity Commissioner maintains the public register of lobbyists.
Ms Palaszczuk said Government Departments would continue to maintain a Register of Lobbyist contacts and it will include the subject matter of meetings.
“Ministerial diaries will continue to maintain a record of meetings and will also include the subject matter of the meeting,” the Premier said.
She said the changes were in line with recommendations of the Kevin Yearbury Review and would apply to the Leader of the Opposition.
“I have said for some time that the rules surrounding lobbyists needed to change and they have,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We already have some of the strongest transparency laws including the publishing of ministerial diaries,” she said.
“These improvements promote greater transparency.”
The Premier said the changes would be implemented regardless of the recommendations of the Coaldrake review which was received last month.
