In Pearls and Irritations, we will be running a series on lobbyists and their threat to our democracy.
Lobbyists are undermining public trust in our political institutions.
They are most prolific in Canberra. Lobby firms infest Barton and Kingston. It is easy walking distance to Parliament House, the National Press Club and the major departments. A real LobbyLand with the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Medical Association, Lockheed Martin, the Australian Pharmacy Guild, the Business Council of Australia and many more.
The series will address the damage they are doing in many areas of public policy and particularly at the moment in the way the fossil fuel lobby is sabotaging attempts to head off the pending climate crisis.
We will also address possible remedial action.
A major obstacle to reform is that Ministers and senior officials see lobbying as a valuable addition to their pension in ‘retirement’.
John Menadue is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Pearls and Irritations. He was formerly Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, Ambassador to Japan, Secretary of the Department of Immigration and CEO of Qantas.
Comments
3 responses to “LobbyLand”
Infesting – such an appropriate word to describe those subverting our democracy such that I am forced to describe it as our “so-called” democracy. These puppet- masters from outside the parliamentary process call the shots – write policy in fact. And keep the MPs and their parties on a drip-feed of funding leash. I couldn’t find LOBBYING anywhere in a quick perusal of my copy of the Constitution! Looking forward to the exposures, John.
Difficult to see the difference between lobbying and advocacy in the community on social issues which brings justice and equity to the people. However lobbying for $$$ and power is the problem today where money can buy access and political influence. A typical consequence of extensive lobby is the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor in the most democratic and riches nation on earth, the US.
Excellent to see you doing this.