Trade unions, large corporations, industry bodies exempt from newly installed NT lobbyist register

The CLP has delivered on its promise to establish a lobbyist register in the Territory, but the opposition says it ‘doesn’t pass the pub test’ and will do little to improve transparency unless major changes are made.

The CLP has launched the Northern Territory’s first lobbyist register.

The Northern Territory has its first lobbyist register, but with key players exempt from being included, critics fear it will do little to improve transparency.

The CLP launched the lobbyist register as parliament returned for the first time this year on Tuesday, delivering on a promise the party took to the election.

The new measure will ensure all third party lobbyists are registered – essentially referring to hired spin doctors, and not including known interest groups such as trade unions, industry bodies and large corporations.

Lobbyists on the register need to make that clear to ministers at the time of seeking meetings and when engaging with ministers, and lobbyists on the register need to be clear who the client they are lobbying on behalf of is.

“Under the new lobbyist rules, former ministers and their senior staff are prohibited from joining in lobbying activities relating to any matter that was within their portfolio responsibilities for six months,” Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said.

“There will also be a new ‘Lobbyists Watch List’ that names and shames people who have breached the register.

“Ministers will not be able to engage with lobbyists who aren’t on the register, or who are on the Watch List.

“Representatives from industry bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce, Master Builders and Minerals Council will not be required to register as it is clear who they are advocating for. The same applies to unions and large corporate firms.”

Mrs Finocchiaro said her government took transparency seriously.

“Since being elected we have already stood up legislative scrutiny committees, doubled the debate time for petitions and installed an Independent Speaker (Robyn Lambley),” she said.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The opposition and crossbenchers welcomed the introduction of a lobbyist register, but said it must be strengthened to be truly effective.

Labor leader Selena Uibo said the register “doesn’t pass the pub test”.

“As it stands, the CLP government’s proposed lobbyist register falls far short of its core purpose – transparency,” Ms Uibo said.

“It contains no measures to disclose who government officials are meeting with, undermining the very reason for having a register in the first place.

“In other jurisdictions, Ministers’ diaries are published online quarterly, listing meetings with registered lobbyist groups and the dates they occurred.

“This register, which won’t even be legislated, not only omits such reporting mechanisms but also hides who the government is engaging with.”

Labor called for all ministers’ diaries to be published, mandated registration for all lobbyist firms, and oversight by an independent body.

Kat McNamara, Member for Nightcliff. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Greens member Kat McNamara also took issue with only six-months cooling off period before politicians can move onto lobbying activities related to their former portfolio.

“When government ministers leave politics they get paid leave afterwards, so you can just sit there on paid leave and wait for your new role to start. It’s absolutely inadequate,” she said.

Independent Johnston MLA Justine Davis criticised the register in the context of the CLP’s funding cuts to groups Environment Centre NT and Arid Lands Environment Centre.

“Announcing a lobbyist register the same morning as cutting funding to one of the key organisations providing independent research and analysis on critical environmental issues in the NT makes it abundantly clear that this government is not interested in transparency or accountability,” she said.

Originally published as Trade unions, large corporations, industry bodies exempt from newly installed NT lobbyist register