Lobbyists Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 22 September 2015.)

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:38): I would like to thank the honourable member for the contribution that was made on this bill and look forward to this progressing through committee stages.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

In committee.

Clause 1.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I will ask this question at clause 1; there is probably a more appropriate clause later on, but I am struggling to find where it is. There is one provision in this bill which will in essence, once the bill is assented to, will mean that lobbyists will not be able also to be members of government boards and committees. Can I ask the minister what advice he can share with the chamber on what the government's intended process is.

There are clearly members of boards at the moment who are, and I would imagine will continue to be, registered lobbyists. What is the government's process going to be in terms of advising those persons that they now have to choose either to continue their lobbying activity or resign from a board, that is, make that choice. What is the government's proposed time frame in terms of them making those arrangements to their personal circumstances?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I can advise that the government will write to those people who appear on the list of government boards and also on the register of lobbyists and ask them to make a choice. I know that the Attorney-General, who is responsible for this, is keen to make sure that happens very quickly. I do not have an exact time frame, but it will be very quickly that people will be asked to make that choice.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I am happy for the minister to take the question on notice and there may not be a response available immediately. I accept that the government is going to take action as soon as possible after assent to ask people to choose, but in essence what will the legal requirement on them be in terms of having to make that choice?

It may well be that the government has to consider delaying the operation of one particular provision of the legislation until a certain time period, whether it is a month or two months or something, because I imagine that if the law says that once the law is passed you must be either/or, at that time if they are in both positions they are breaking the law. It may well be that the government's proposed process will be not to enact a particular provision for a period of time to allow them to organise their circumstances. If that is the case, I would be interested to know what the government's proposal or thinking might be—is it a month, two months, three months?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I am happy to take those on notice and undertake that I will have the Attorney-General provide a response to the honourable member about the mechanics of which parts will come into operation at what time, and the times that will be set down for those.

Clause passed.

Clauses 2 to 19 passed.

Schedule and title passed.

Bill reported without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:43): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.