Open up your diary: NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet’s MP transparency push
In a bid to crack down on secret lobbying, Dominic Perrottet wants to legislate that all members of parliament need to disclosure their diaries, not just ministers.
NSW
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Labor politicians would be forced to disclose who they meet with under government legislation to crack down on secret lobbying.
The legislation would force all MPs to disclose their official diary meetings, something which currently only applies to government ministers.
However, Labor Leader Chris Minns has refused to say whether he supports moves to force all MPs – including Labor MPs – to disclose their official diaries.
The bill, which is currently being drafted, is Premier Dominic Perrottet’s response to an Independent Commission Against Corruption report which makes 29 recommendations to crack down on corruption risks, and regulate lobbyists’ access to Ministers.
The government legislation goes further than the ICAC’s recommendations, by forcing all MPs to disclose official diary meetings.
“Local constituents deserve to know who their local member is meeting with, whether that includes unions, developers or any other interest group,” Mr Perrottet told The Daily Telegraph.
“No one should be concerned about transparency.”
Labor’s Ministry of State spokesman John Graham said that Labor “supports reform to improve integrity and accountability” but has not seen the proposed legislation.
“We look forward to seeing the details of the Bill being proposed and will also seek a briefing from the NSW Government,” Labor’s Ministry of State spokesman John Graham said.
“Integrity should be above politics and it is incumbent on all sides of politics to work together to ensure public trust.”
Extra scrutiny on MPs’ diaries comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed that dumped Minister Eleni Petinos had an official meeting with Coronation Property Group and former Deputy Premier John Barilaro on June 21 – just weeks before a stop work order on the developer was lifted.
Mr Barilaro is set to be questioned about the purpose of the meeting when he appears before a parliamentary inquiry as early as this week, after he pulled out of a hearing on Friday due to mental ill-health.
Mr Minns is also under pressure to act on complaints raised against a senior frontbencher in a landmark bullying review by Elizabeth Broderick.
Senior Labor MPs have told The Telegraph that Mr Minns needs to act on allegations made against Police spokesman Walt Secord in confidential submissions to the review.
Mr Secord apologised on Friday after the complaints were revealed.
“I am aware of my shortcomings and I will continue to receive assistance,” he said.
Mr Minns has said complaints against MPs are handled in accordance with an independent process outlined in NSW Labor Party rules.
Those rules state that the relevant policies for complaints levelled by staffers against politicians are laws governing staff employment, the Fair Work Act, and the Workplace Health and Safety Act.
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