Push for scrutiny on ‘union lobbyists’

Sweeping reforms proposed by Queensland’s CCC want union officials deemed lobbyists to declare any meetings with Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government.

Bruce Barbour, chairman of the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Union officials will be deemed lobbyists and have to publicly ­declare dealings with Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government under reforms proposed by Queensland’s integrity watchdog.

The Crime and Corruption Commission released a report on Monday into influence and ­access in Queensland that raises concerns about unions and well-connected individuals – including lobbyists – securing privileged access to government officials.

In its report, titled Influence and Transparency in Queensland’s Public Sector, the CCC has made seven sweeping recommendations that will ban politicians, their staffers and senior bureaucrats from immediately cashing in on their connections after leaving government.

In its most explosive reform, the CCC recommends lobbyist transparency exemptions be dropped for “in-house lobbyists, trade unions and other interest groups”.

The watchdog is demanding union officials declare any contact with the government when they seek to influence policy or law changes.

Under the reforms, which have already been slammed by the Local Government Association and the Queensland Council of Unions, ministers would be required to record dealings with union officials in their public diaries, including subject matter of meetings.

A CCC spokeswoman said the intention of the proposed ­reforms was for government to ensure the definition of a “lobbyist” focuses on the activity of influencing rather than the particular individuals or organisations who are undertaking that activity.

“At present, a range of entities – including trade unions, professional bodies and non-profit organisations – are exempt from registering and disclosing ­influencing activities,” she said.  “The CCC is not proposing that all members of these bodies should, by default, be registered lobbyists. Rather, we are proposing that when representatives from these organisations undertake a ‘lobbying activity’, as ­defined in the Integrity Act 2009, they should be subject to the same transparency and ­reporting obligations as other groups and individuals.”

Under the Integrity Act, a “lobbying activity” includes contact with a government representative in an effort to influence decision-making about changing laws or policy, awarding of a government contract or grant, allocation of funding or development approvals.

“The CCC is of the view that expanding the definition will improve transparency of all types of influence and will help level the playing field in relation to reporting obligations and requirements,” the spokeswoman said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczukspeaks to frontline health workers at Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital.

The CCC’s probe was sparked by an investigation by The Australian that exposed deep connections between the two major parties and lobbyists who work behind the scenes, overseeing election campaign strategy, party preselections and disciplinary proceedings.

The Australian has also exposed the backroom influence of unions on the Palaszczuk government, including the mangocube email scandal when Electrical Trade Union bosses were making demands of then-energy minister Mark Bailey in secret emails.

Queensland Council of Unions boss Jacqueline King slammed the recommendations, saying union officials should not be forced to register as lobbyists.

“Making us register as lobbyists is about trying to undermine what our role is and take away our rights as advocates on behalf of workers,” she said.

“The CCC should be focused on corrupt conduct in places like local government as well as the state government, which is not necessarily related to day-to-day industrial activities of unions.

“I think (the government) should think carefully before they just proceed to adopt any ­report recommendations, without thinking through the practical implications.”

The CFMEU, which has previously savaged Ms Palaszczuk for failing to excise a “creeping cancer” of lobbyists from her government, welcomed the CCC recommendations. “They are overdue, lobbyists have been wielding too much influence for too long and have effectively been allowed to run amok,” a CFMEU spokesman said.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Alison Smith said recommendations were “unnecessary, not supported by other recent reviews and would add an excessive layer of administrative burden to the work councillors do every day”.

“Further, the LGAQ is disappointed the CCC did not conduct proper consultation before making its assumptions and recommending sweeping policy changes,” she said. “We would urge the state government to ignore this deeply flawed report and instead ensure the CCC works speedily to adopt the Fitzgerald 2.0 recommendations.”

In the third major investigation into lobbying practices in Queensland in as many years, the CCC noted concerns that well-connected individuals, large ­organisations and unions may be getting “preferential outcomes because of their associations or ability to influence decision-­makers.”

“Examples were provided in submissions of suspected or ­alleged improper influence on both state and local government decisions,” the report read.

“This included concerns that elected officials and public sector employees were being improperly influenced through personal or political relationships, money or the activities of trade unions.”

A Queensland government spokesman said the report was being “carefully considered”.

“As the CCC noted, Queensland’s transparency framework is one of the strongest in Australia and work is already under way to make it even stronger and improve transparency and equity,” he said.

The report also recommended a ban on former senior government and opposition representatives registering as a lobbyist for a specified period after leaving office, similar to the 12 months mandated in Western Australia.

CCC chairman Bruce Barbour said the public expected government decisions to be made in the best interests of the community and access to decision-makers must be equitable and transparent.