Submission: Political Lobbying (Integrity and Transparency) Bill
Transparency International Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission in relation to the Political Lobbying (Integrity and Transparency) Bill.
Lobbying is a legitimate part of any democracy, helping decision-makers consider different policy options and ensuring constituents can be heard. The risk arises when access to those decision-makers becomes skewed toward interests with disproportionate wealth and influence, which affects the quality of public decision-making, trust and confidence in government.
Tasmania’s current lobbying scheme falls well short of what is needed. Transparency International Australia's analysis Behind Closed Doors: A Comparative Jurisdictional Analysis of Australia's Lobbying Rules (2025) shows Tasmania scoring 25/100 below all other states and narrowly ahead of the NT, ACT and the Commonwealth.
This submission focuses mostly on the scope and register of political lobbyists and obligations for political lobbyists and is based on Transparency International research and international standards, and OECD framework. We strongly support the passing of the Private Members Bill and are willing to work collaboratively with the Parliament of Tasmania to make Tasmania a world leader in lobbying regulation, and that other jurisdictions, including the Commonwealth, will seek to emulate.