O'Rourke Denis: Lobbying Disclosure Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
O'Rourke Denis: Lobbying Disclosure Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 25 July 2012. Volume:682;Page:3965. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
DENIS O’ROURKE (NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First supports the Lobbying Disclosure Bill as presented going to the Government Administration Committee. In December last year Transparency International published a global Corruption Perceptions Index which placed New Zealand first in the index of the world’s least corrupt nations. That was something for us to be proud of and something to be valued. 
The perception of corruption amongst members of Parliament is very low in New Zealand despite a recent high-profile case. But that low level can be enhanced further by more openness around lobbying of MPs in this country. Openness and transparency are essential in all areas of Government save only where genuine issues of public interest require an exception. In the United Kingdom recently as we all know the corrupt practices concerning member of Parliament expenses there became an issue that degraded the reputation of the UK Parliament. Transparency is the medicine to avoid all such problems. A perception is something that you cannot shake. Once a Parliament gets a reputation for being anything other than free from corruption it is very hard to shake that perception. So for those sorts of reasons I think this bill although it is very much required in this country is not aimed at correcting a current problem; it is aimed at avoiding such problems happening in the future. 
In relation to paid lobbying and activities it is very necessary. It is appropriate and desirable and it is harmless and worthwhile. There is nothing inherently wrong of course in lobbying. It is a healthy part of our democracy provided it is done openly and provided it is done ethically especially where it concerns professional—in other words paid—lobbyists. Currently it is something of a secret activity and it should not be. Professional paid activities require professional standards and openness. The public ought to have the means to know the who the what and the how about lobbying in this country as is the case in Australia in Canada and no doubt in other places as well. Therefore the requirements of the bill for registration of professional lobbyists—those who are paid—returns of lobbying activities and a code of conduct arrived at through a consultative process and with select committee scrutiny are appropriate and should be welcomed by lobbyists as well as MPs and the public generally. 
The administration of the Act as it will be by the Auditor-General in respect of the register the keeping of returns and making them publicly available and the development of the code of conduct of course are also very appropriate provisions in the bill. There will be a cost of course but it would be modest compared with the value of preserving New Zealand’s reputation externally and Parliament’s reputation internally. 
Concerning sanctions the removal or suspension of a lobbyist from the register for a breach of the code or for failing to file returns is a very powerful tool and will be successful. That of course is subject to a lobbyist being given the opportunity to present their views in those circumstances. New Zealand First’s only reservation really is around the definition of the term “lobbyist” and I expect that the select committee will pay close attention to that particular issue. That being solved this is a bill that should proceed. 
New Zealand First would like to consider in the future whether this principle should also be applied to local government because if it is appropriate for central government then it is of course also appropriate for local government. But that is an issue for the future—one however that I do think needs to be considered. New Zealand First is satisfied that this bill is well conceived and that it deserves full consideration by the select committee with particular reference as I have said to the definition of who a lobbyist is for the purpose of the bill. With that reservation and those comments New Zealand First is very happy indeed to support the bill going to the Government Administration Committee.