Page 1960 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 5 August 2014
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The Canberra Liberals want to encourage openness. We are here to be accountable, but we are also here to listen to groups within the community, including the professional representatives of those groups. It is right that they be heard; it is right that they be known; and it is right that we approach that balance with the best intentions.
The lobbyist register itself and the preamble in the motion contains a number of aspects. The preamble states:
(a) Free and open access to the institutions of government is a vital element of our democracy.
(b) Ethical lobbying is a legitimate activity and an important part of the democratic process.
(c) Lobbyists can enhance the strength of our democracy by assisting individuals and organisations with advice on public policy processes and facilitating contact with public officials.
(d) In performing this role, there is a public expectation that lobbyists will be individuals of strong moral calibre who operate according to the highest standards of professional conduct.
(e) This Code of Conduct is designed to ensure that contact between lobbyists and public officials is conducted in accordance with public expectations of transparency, integrity and honesty.
It is my view that this Assembly has nothing to hide. Therefore, let us be as open as we can in with our dealings to make sure that the very good reputation that this Assembly enjoys and its members enjoy—current and past members—for integrity and ethical behaviour are maintained.
We support the motion today. Because this is new to the ACT Assembly, I think that it would be prudent to say at this point that we will monitor its progress and its workability. We certainly support its intent, as I have said, but as is often the case with these new initiatives as they roll out there can be technical issues and amendments that can improve the functioning of the register. If that were the case, I look forward to working with other members of the Assembly to make sure that this register actually provides on the ground the intent that we all agree with here today.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (12.01): I thank the Chief Minister for bringing forward this motion today. I know it is an issue that she has advocated for some time now. It came before the admin and procedures committee, which I am a member of, and we have discussed it in recent months. The ethics and integrity adviser, Stephen Skehill, was also asked to provide advice to the committee and he did so in May this year. It was very useful advice. Certainly, the Greens are very happy to support provisions that increase transparency and accountability and improve the quality of our democracy. I believe that moving down the path of having a register for lobbyists is one step in that and I am happy to support the motion today on that basis.
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