The Wonkery

The Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee has announced an Inquiry into the Lobbying Code of Conduct, (you can get the code here) with submissions due 2008-06-10.  The inquiry is meant to review if…

• the code is adequate to achieve its aims;
• the code should apply to members of both Houses of Parliament and their staff;
• the code should be extended to organisations which lobby on their own behalf; and
• whether the proposed exemptions are justified.

• Important Dates:
  • Submissions Due: 2008-06-10
  • Referred to Committee: 2008-05-10
  • Committee Report Due: 2008-08-28
• Submissions and questions via:
  • Email: fpa.sen@aph.gov.au
  • Snailmail: The Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration, PO Box 6100 Parliament House, CANBERRA ACT 2600
• Info about the inquiry
• Terms of reference
• Other resources
  • The Code
  • Lobbyists site at Dept of PM and Cabinet
  • Lobbyists FAQ at the Dept of PM and Cabinet

I’ll probably be looking at this, trying to take the angle of how I’d wriggle through the inevitable escape clauses if I was an evil politician or lobbyist.

If anyone else can see the loopholes, and the Mac trucks you can probably drive through them, add your thoughts here if you aren’t a Wonkery member.