[Greens-Media] O'Farrell should stop Liberal party vice-pres lobbying for pubs

[John Kaye]

O'Farrell should stop Liberal party vice-pres lobbying for pubs

Media release: 1 May 2011

NSW Liberal party vice-president Michael Photios has thrown the O'Farrell
government into a conflict of interest crisis by becoming a paid lobbyist
for the Australian Hotels Association, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
('Man with connections', Sun Herald 1 May p. 29, http://j.mp/sh110501)

Dr Kaye said: "The hotel industry has purchased gold plated access in a
hotly contested policy area.

"Mr Photios may be within his legal rights to accept payment to pressure the
state government on behalf of the state's pubs but the code of conduct
regulating lobbyist is clearly inadequate.

"The vice-president of the party of state government has substantial
influence over decisions such as preselection.

"He would inevitably have privileged access to government ministers and MPs
because of his party position.

"Mr Photios will be a highly potent voice against poker machine reforms,
restrictions on outdoor smoking and cracking down on pubs that are
responsible for alcohol related violence.

"It looks like nothing much changed on March 26.

"Like its predecessor, the O'Farrell government is not providing a level
playing field where individual voters can be heard over the lobbying and
influence of cashed-up businesses and their well-connected mouthpieces.

"Last year the Greens successfully amended the election funding laws to stop
campaign donations from the alcohol industry and its representative bodies.

"Now we need to embarrass the O'Farrell government into closing this
loophole that was not foreseen when the code of conduct regulating lobbyists
was written," Dr Kaye said.


For more information:    John Kaye 0407 195 455

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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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