Not all lobbyists are bad, but their revolving door is out of control

August 28, 2026 — 1:30pm

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In a recent interview on breakfast radio, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy made a startling assertion: he maintained that the current federal lobbying regime in place under the Albanese Labor government is strong. Why startling? Because most integrity experts, including those at the Centre for Public Integrity, which I chair, regard the current federal regulation of lobbying to be a broken system.

This is not because lobbying is inherently problematic. In our work, we have always recognised that (appropriately regulated) lobbying is an indispensable part of the policymaking process. This reflects the reality that it is neither possible nor practical for government to maintain within it expertise in all the areas it regulates and legislates, and lobbying allows it to access that expertise as required.

The challenge arises when – as is the case federally – there is an absence of transparency and accountability, and the capacity to be heard either is, or appears to be, profoundly unequal. This........

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