Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

It applies equally, in answer to the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition. The code also prohibits government representatives, including ministers and their staff, from knowingly or being intentionally party to lobbying by a lobbyist who is not on the register.

In February 2022 there were amendments made to the code, including introducing a power for the secretary of the Attorney-General's Department to bar a lobbyist who has committed a serious breach of the code, including unregistered lobbying, from registering for up to three months. I stress again: it works by requiring both lobbyists and government representatives to comply with the code. No government representative is to meet with someone who is lobbying who is not on the register.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security is currently—as one of its many references; it's a very busy committee—reviewing the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018, which also regulates lobbying and other influence activities on behalf of foreign principals. The government is looking forward to the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security and will consider any representations or recommendations that it may make.

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