Teals push for overhaul of 'completely ineffectual' parliament lobbying rules
Crossbenchers, who could hold the balance of power after the next election, want changes to the rules around lobbying at Parliament House.
After a brief security check, anyone can wander into the Queen’s Terrace cafe at Parliament House. But it’s at Aussies cafe below where the powerful gather to grab food or a coffee away from the public eye.
One minister chats with her chief of staff in line for a caffeine hit. Two rows behind, her opposition counterpart taps away on his phone. Union representatives talk with political staffers. MPs speak in hushed tones with journalists. Many conversations are impromptu, the result of people bumping into each other in line.
Also among the crowd are those with orange passes clipped to their waists: lobbyists, who are provided almost unfettered access to non-public areas of Parliament House.
There are growing concerns among independent MPs about the influence these lobbyists have on public policy — particularly on climate change and energy. There are also loopholes that mean the public rarely knows which ministers they meet, and when.
