[Greens-Media] Media release: Lobbying package first step in cleaning up NSW politics

[Lauren Waldon]

Lobbying package first step in cleaning up NSW politics

Media release: 13 May 2014

Premier Mike Baird's important first steps towards reducing the influence of lobbyist have been undermined by the loopholes he left open, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye

Dr Kaye said: "There is much in this package that could benefit NSW if the Premier were prepared to stop ministers hiding behind commercial-in-confidence excuses to protect lobbying from public scrutiny.

"The Ministerial Code of Conduct has long been seen as a toothless tiger. Making breaches a matter for ICAC will make all ministers focus on their duty to the people of the state and help transform the toxic culture of NSW politics.

"Independent regulation of lobbyists will expose the worst behaviours and pressure the industry into clean up its act.

"It's a good start, but Mike Baird's lobbying reforms are vulnerable to the loopholes the Premier has left open.

"Behind every Minister is a team of staff, bureaucrats and parliamentary secretaries whose opinions and judgement play a key role in decision making in this state.

"The web of influence peddling will be able to continue with ministers being lobbied vicariously through their staff and parliamentary secretaries.

"The effect will be the same as if the minister had been directly lobbied.

"Mr Baird should do as ICAC recommended and include ministerial staffers, parliamentary and senior bureaucrats in the disclosure regime.

"There is a long and dishonourable tradition in NSW politics of declaring matters commercial-in-confidence or cabinet papers when the real objective is to hide a misdeed from the public.

"Any minister wanting to hide a meeting will only have to claim that any disclosure would hurt the finances of the company seeking government favour.

"There are good reasons to protect the anonymity of whistle blowers and some commercial interactions.

"However, without a mechanism to ensure that the provisions are not being misused, the culture of lobbying will continue behind closed doors.

 "At the very least, decisions to remove details of meetings from published ministerial diaries should be subjected to independent review.

"Premier Baird's move falls short of the Independent Commission Against Corruption's 2010 recommendations.

"The watchdog pushed for disclosure of meetings not just with ministers, but also with ministerial staff, parliamentary secretaries and senior public servants.

"Opposition Leader John Robertson's bill before parliament also fails to capture ministerial staffers and parliamentary secretaries.

"Neither the Coalition nor Labor are prepared to go the full distance on ICAC's 2010 recommendations, " Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

John Kaye
Greens NSW MP   [cid:image001.png at 01CE2194.B5A57900]

P: (02) 9230 2668 | F: facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc<http://www.facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc> | T: @johnkgreens<twitter.com/johnkgreens> | W: www.johnkaye.org.au<http://www.johnkaye.org.au>
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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