Lobbyists

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (14:24): Will the Attorney-General outline to the house steps being taken to deliver open and transparent government, particularly with respect to lobbyists?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Kavel, could you please repeat the question because I had the member for Chaffey and, I believe, the member for West Torrens also interjecting.

Mr CREGAN: Yes, sir, with pleasure. Will the Attorney-General outline to the house steps being taken to deliver open and transparent government, particularly with respect to lobbyists?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:24): I thank the member for Kavel for his question. I am immensely proud to be part of a government where the open, transparent and accountable conditions and threshold are the basis upon which we are to operate. It is a far cry the former Labor government in respect of the secretive SA umbrella of which they pervaded over.

I will say that in the passage of the ICAC public hearings bill and the journalist shield laws it has been a joy to receive support from the opposition, and finally they have come to their senses. Here is another matter which is important to the government, and that is to ensure that office bearers of registered political parties and entities may not engage in lobbying. In the coming weeks, as Attorney-General I will introduce an amendment to the Lobbyist Act. As members may well know—and I hope that they are familiar with this—in essence, lobbying means, of course, to communicate with a public official on behalf of a third party for the purpose of influencing the outcome of certain government deliberations.

Currently, we have a Lobbyist Act. It makes it an offence to engage in lobbying of public officials unless that person is registered. That followed on from the previous government's provision of guidelines, and that act currently provides a maximum penalty of a fine of $30,000 or up to two years' imprisonment for a natural person or a fine of up to $150,000 for a body corporate.

The Liberal policy promised before the election goes beyond the current laws and will prohibit lobbying by office bearers of registered political parties and entities for the entire period the office bearer holds the relevant office. That also will extend for the 12 months after the person ceases that role. Beyond the prohibitions of who may undertake lobbying, the government bill will ban any officer of an associated entity, such as a union, from becoming a registered lobbyist in South Australia. Clearly, the clarity will be required—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —under the legislation of which the government will be consulting in respect of—

Mr Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for West Torrens!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —prescribed organisations under the bill. That includes those who are registered political parties or associated entities. We are cautious—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order! The member for Kaurna is called to order.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. We are cautious that some people may move in and out of being an associated entity due to donations they may make to registered political parties and therefore be captured by the policy. These are the matters on which we will consult and ensure that we have an effective reform in this area without unduly capturing those who are inadvertent, but ensure that, put simply, we will demonstrate yet again the significance of having open and transparent government. We are committed to do it and we will.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker, I call to order and I warn the member for West Torrens. I call to order the member for Lee, the member for Kaurna and the Minister for Transport.