Marlborough fallout prompts lobbyist register

Lobbyists seeking to influence the state government will have to be registered, keep parliament updated on their activity and declare their interests when meeting with politicians or officials - the first such initiative in the country, which has been driven by the scandal surrounding Norm Marlborough.

The move announced today by premier Alan Carpenter was endorsed after a meeting of State Cabinet in Broome, and follows the fall out from a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into the Canal Rocks property development which has prompted the resignation from parliament of Mr Marlborough because of his dealings with former premier and lobbyist Brian Burke.

Cabinet is due to finalise the details of the model in the upcoming weeks but key features include:

- a central register of lobbyists and their clients available to the public;
- registered lobbyists must regularly update which companies or organisations they are representing;
- a clear onus on lobbyists to declare their interests when arranging meetings with State Government officials; and
- a code of conduct for lobbyists which covers their contact with Ministers, ministerial offices or public servants.

Opposition leader Paul Omodei described the register as policy on the run.

The idea of a lobbyist register is not new, independent MLA Liz Constable proposed the idea in a bill in 2003, but it had gained little support and lapsed this year.

Below is a state government and opposition announcement:

Premier Alan Carpenter has announced that Western Australia will become the first state in Australia to introduce a register of political lobbyists.

The move was endorsed after a meeting of State Cabinet in Broome today.

Mr Carpenter said a register of lobbyists would allow the Government to better scrutinise the activities of lobbyists and whom they represent.

"The reality is that lobbyists have become an integral part of the modern political landscape," he said.

"We cannot stop companies and organisations hiring lobbyists, but we can introduce ways of making their activities more transparent."

Cabinet is due to finalise the details of the model in the upcoming weeks but key features include:

- a central register of lobbyists and their clients available to the public;
- registered lobbyists must regularly update which companies or organisations they are representing;
- a clear onus on lobbyists to declare their interests when arranging meetings with State Government officials; and
- a code of conduct for lobbyists which covers their contact with Ministers, ministerial offices or public servants.

The register will be reviewed after 12 months by a Parliamentary committee to determine whether changes or legislation are required.

It is expected the register will be operating by early next year.

State opposition released the following:

The Premier's announcement today about the establishment of a public register for political lobbyists is policy on the run.

Opposition Leader Paul Omodei said the horse had well and truly bolted and the Premier was now desperately trying to make up lost ground.

"The main issue facing the Premier today is the honesty and integrity of his Ministers, not the activities of political lobbyists," Mr Omodei said.

"The Premier should be demanding that his Ministers act with honesty and integrity.

"Whether lobbyists declare their clients on a register or not will not stop dodgy Ministers acting inappropriately.

"Alan Carpenter would not have this drama today if the man he propelled into Cabinet, Norm Marlborough, had acted with honesty and integrity."

Mr Omodei said he doubted banning Brian Burke and Julian Grill from the register would be enforceable.

"Labor's original ban on Brian Burke and Julian Grill was ignored," he said.

"Several Ministers met with the two despite the ban, and it is highly unlikely that the new ban will be successful, given numerous Ministers' strong links to Burke and Grill.

"The register would also be powerless in stopping Brian Burke and Julian Grill using political lobbyists on the register as a conduit to influence Labor Ministers, just like they were using the Independent Action Group to conceal the real source of funding to local council candidates."