What is lobbying in Australia?
Lobbying is the practice of putting a case to government or parliament.
Businesses, charities, unions, think tanks and community groups do it, some directly, some through a firm engaged to act for them.
The Australian Government Register of Lobbyists draws the line more tightly. It covers what the register calls third-party lobbying: lobbying of government representatives, not parliament, by firms acting for clients, not in-house teams.
That scope was the register's original design. The minister who introduced it in 2008 said the point was for government representatives to be able to identify whose interests a lobbyist represents. The minister said an in-house team's employer already made that clear.
Evidence to a Senate committee places third-party lobbyists at 20 per cent of all lobbyists; the rest are in-house. Third-party lobbying is the visible part of lobbying in Australia, and the part Lobby500 measures.
Some of what parliamentarians, a Senate committee and the Attorney-General's Department say about lobbying follows.
What place does it have?
“Lobbying is a legitimate activity and an important part of the democratic process.”
“Lobbying is a longstanding and legitimate feature of democratic governance dating back hundreds of years and is an important feature of any healthy democracy.”
“Lobbying is a legitimate act of democratic participation which can support informed and inclusive decision-making, as described by the OECD in a 2021 report.”
What purpose does it serve?
“Lobbyists can help individuals and organisations communicate their views on matters of public interest to the government and, in doing so, improve outcomes for the individual and community as a whole.”
“Lobbying has the potential to improve legislation and policy outcomes and strengthen democratic participation by bridging the divide between the public and decision-makers.”
What is in dispute?
What is contested is the rules. The strongest calls for tighter regulation start from the same premise.
“Lobbying plays a legitimate and vital role in our democracy.”
“Lobbying itself is not the problem. Advocacy is a vital part of our democracy.”
“There’s a place for lobbyists in the parliament, but we need to have rules around them …”
The Attorney-General's Department states the expectation:
“In performing this role, there is a public expectation that lobbying activities will be carried out ethically and transparently …”
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