The CCC’s work will include information gleaned from an audit of state and council records — including the offices of government and opposition MPs,ministers and departments.Credit:Robert Rough
Information gleaned from an audit of state and council records of lobbying activity — including the offices of government and opposition MPs,ministers and departments — to gauge their accuracy,along with targeted stakeholder engagement and public submissions,will inform the work.
“[This] will allow the CCC to proactively assess and identify any activity or associations that may put the public interest at risk,and if further consideration of the issues is warranted,” adiscussion paper published on Friday said.
The agency said such future action could include a public hearing to “explore issues and seek evidence from relevant parties”,a further public report,or the use of “other powers available to the CCC” to examine the issue.
Stakeholders set to be contacted include current and former lobbying firms and clients,government officials on the other side of their approaches,and other relevant bodies or groups. Submissions will close on July 15.
The move,sparked by what the CCC described as recent investigations and intelligence,comes amid aperiod of heightened scrutiny around the lobbying sector and the ties between former staffers and Labor figures and the now third-term Palaszczuk Labor government.
After a rare public statement to candidates ahead of the 2020 state election about the dangers of improper influence,the CCC said the corruption risks associated with lobbying activity had since “intensified”.