25 July 2012

Public to have their say on lobbying

A Green Party member's bill to establish the country’s first publicly accessible register of lobbyists unanimously passed its first reading tonight, on the same day the Speaker of Parliament released the names of lobbyists who have swipe card access to the parliament buildings.

The Lobbying Disclosure Bill would set up a register of lobbyists and a code of conduct for lobbyists, modelled on a successful Canadian public disclosure regime.

"The purpose of the Lobbying Disclosure Bill is to promote greater transparency in our political system," said Green Party open government spokesperson Holly Walker.

“It’s great that other political parties recognise that there is a need to look into the issue of lobbying.

“The Speaker’s release of the names of lobbyists who have swipe card access to parliament buildings highlights that lobbyists do have a privileged position within the corridors of power.

“Most New Zealanders do not have the privileged access to MPs and decision makers that these select few lobbyists do.

“Political lobbying seems to be something of a growth industry that is at present entirely unregulated.

“We need greater transparency to ensure lobbying does not become a dangerous feature of our political system, in the way that it is in other countries.

“It is pleasing to note that we have even had support from some lobbyists for this bill.

“In an open and democratic society the public deserves to know what organisations are pushing their agendas behind parliament’s doors.

"This Bill being before a select committee will give the public a chance to have their say on how the influence of behind the scenes lobbyists can be both regulated and scrutinised.”

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