Integrity Commission: Mercury Incorrect on Register of Lobbyists

Statement – Michael Easton, CEO Integrity Commission, 13 July 2023

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“The story on page three of today’s Hobart Mercury states the owners of lobbying entities will not be displayed on the Tasmanian Register of Lobbyists.

This is incorrect. The names of the owners of lobbying entities are on the Register and will remain on the Register.

The name of the person referred to in the article is on the Register as can be seen here.

The issue addressed by the emails which the article refers to was whether, or not, the owners of lobbying entities would be required to provide statutory declarations stating that they have not been convicted of a dishonesty offence or served more than 24 months in prison. Again, this has no impact on their names being made public via the Register.

Further, the emails at the centre of the story – those sent on 10 July 2023 – had no bearing on the decision not to require lobbyists to submit statutory declarations this year. That decision was made more than 10 days prior, on 29 June.

On 29 June 2023, a lobbying entity advised the Integrity Commission that statutory declarations had not previously been required to be submitted by owners of lobbying entities. This was the case over the past 10 years when the Register was administered by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and last year by the Commission.

Beyond the contact from 2 lobbying entities pointing out these have not been required in the past there was no contact with any person outside of the Commission which informed or influenced that decision.”