Annastacia Palaszczuk announces changes to code of conduct around lobbying

Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced sweeping changes to the rules around lobbying as her government prepares for the release of a review into its integrity.

The definition of lobbying will be expanded in Queensland to include advisers, consultants and communication specialists who work at lobbying firms under sweeping changes to the code of conduct.

On the eve of Professor Peter Coaldrake’s final report into her government’s integrity, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Monday revealed new changes that would come into effect within the next month.

Lobbyists will now only be allowed to make contact with the government through a minister’s chief of staff.

And both lobbyists and ministers will need to publicly reveal what was discussed at meetings.

Ms Palaszczuk said Cabinet, which endorsed the changes today, believed they needed to be implemented as quickly as possible.

“If you are working for a lobbying firm and you may be called an adviser, a consultant, a communication specialist, you will now be deemed to be a lobbyist,” she said.

Annastacia Palaszczuk announces changes to lobbying rules. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

“We are expanding that definition of lobbying which I think is very important.”

The Premier said the changes essentially meant anyone working at a lobbyist firm, aside from administration staff, would be lobbyists.

“Secondly lobbyists will only be able to make contact through the chief of staff in a minister’s office,” she said.

“Obviously a number of contacts have been made through different levels of a ministerial office.

“I have escalated that to the chief of staff and the chief of staff is the only person who can delegate that to a senior Adviser.

“And there will be no lobbying activity for those under a senior adviser in ministerial staff, I need it to be at the highest levels of government.”

Any request for a meeting with a government official will now need to be made in writing – not via the phone.

“Thirdly what we want to see is more details in the lobbyist register about the subject matter but also too when the ministers have their diaries – what the subject matter that was discussed should also be in those diaries as well,” the Premier said.

“We would anticipate that they (changes) would be implemented within the next month.”

These changes will be made to the lobbying and ministerial codes of conduct.

The Premier said she would implement whatever recommendations Prof Coaldrake makes.

His final report is due tomorrow.

Ms Palaszczuk’s intervention follows an explosive investigation by the state’s corruption watchdog that laid bare the disproportionate access key figures with political connections appeared to have with her government.

It also follows revelations that powerful lobbyists Evan Moorhead and Cameron Milner worked on Labor’s 2020 election campaign.

“I have been following these issues very closely,” Ms Palaszczuk said on Monday. 

“Our aim is to always do better and these changes ensure even greater openness and transparency.”

Ms Palaszczuk earlier this year conceded there was a “blurring” of lines in the lobbying industry as she repeatedly said that if Prof Coaldrake recommended tightening lobbying regulations than she would.

In his interim report released in April, Prof Coaldrake hit out at an “accentuated by the dual roles of some lobbyists” who work for political parties and act for clients.