2015-05-26 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA     26 MAY 2015




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COUNCIL POLICY — CONTACT WITH LOBBYISTS

The Lobbyists Code of Conduct is a code of conduct, approved by the Integrity Commissioner
for lobbyists in relation to lobbying activities. The purpose of the Lobbyists Code of Conduct is to
provide standards of conduct for lobbyists to ensure that contact between lobbyists and
government and opposition representatives is carried out in accordance with public expectations of
transparency and integrity.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Lobbyists’ obligations
It is the responsibility of lobbyists to register on the Lobbyists Register heid by the Integrity
Commissioner and to ensure that all lobbying is conducted in accordance with the Lobbyists Code
of Conduct, as approved by the Commissioner.
When a lobbyist makes initial contact with a Councillor or Council Officer to carry out a lobbying
activity, that lobbyist must inform the Councillor or Council Officer that they are:
(a)   A lobbyist currently listed on the register of registered lobbyists held by the Integrity
      Commissioner, or
(b)   A listed person for a lobbyist who is currently on the register of registered lobbyists; and
(c)   Making contact on behalf of a third party; and
(d)   The name of the third party; and
(e)   The nature of that third party's issues; and
(f)   |The reasons for the approach.
When a lobbyist who became a former senior government representative (including a former
Councillor) less than two years earlier makes contact with a Councillor or Council Officer, they
must indicate all of the following:
(a) That they are a former senior government representative;
(b) When they became a former senior government representative; and
(c) That the matter is not a ‘related lobbying activity’; an activity prohibited under the Integrity Act
    2009.
In addition to the above, the Integrity Commissioner requires a lobbyist to record details of any
lobbying contact made with a Councillor or Council Officer. For avoidance of doubt, this policy does
not set out all of the requirements and processes imposed upon lobbyists by the /ntegrity Act 2009.

Council obligations
Pursuant to s71 of the Integrity Act 2009, a Councillor or Council Officer must not knowingly permit
an entity that is not a registered lobbyist to carry out a lobbying activity for a third party client.
lf a Councillor or Council Officer becomes aware that an entity seeking to carry out a lobbying
activity for a third party client with them is not a registered lobbyist, Council is required to advise
the Integrity Commissioner as soon as practicable.
Pursuant to s70 of the Integrity Act 2009, for 2 years after a person becomes a former senior
government representative the person must not carry out a related lobbying activity for a third party
client and a Councillor or Council Officer must not knowingly permit a related lobbying activity. Ifa
Councillor or Council Officer is aware that an entity seeking to carry out a lobbying activity for a
third party client is not a registered lobbyist the details must be provided to the CEO and the
Integrity Commissioner advised as soon as practicable.

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