|NSW Greens MP and spokesperson for democracy, anti-corruption and ICAC, Kobi Shetty, has introduced legislation to shine a light on secret lobbying and curb the disproportionate influence of powerful industries in NSW politics.
The Lobbying of Government Officials (Access and Influence) Bill 2026 would strengthen transparency around who is seeking to influence government decisions and would help restrict the access of powerful lobby groups.
Kobi Shetty MP for Balmain and Greens NSW Spokesperson on anti-corruption and ICAC says:
“People deserve to know who is trying to influence the government, on whose behalf, and about what.
“Right now, too much access and influence happens behind closed doors. Powerful industries can pay professional lobbyists to open doors most people could never get through. That is not how a healthy democracy should work.
“ICAC gave NSW a detailed blueprint for lobbying reform more than five years ago. The former Liberal Government failed to deliver it, and the Minns Labor Government has now had more than three years in office and still has not implemented these urgent reforms.
“Operation Rosny has again shown why we cannot keep waiting for the next ICAC inquiry before we strengthen the rules. No findings have been made and ICAC must be allowed to do its job, but the integrity lesson is already clear.
“The public should not have to find out years later who was getting access, what they were asking for, and whose interests were being represented.
“We have seen the damage that powerful industries can do when they are given privileged access. The gambling industry has used its influence to delay and weaken
urgently needed pokies reform, while communities across NSW continue to live with the devastating impacts of gambling harm.
"The same can be said for the property developer lobby. When Morris Iemma can use his former position to secure exclusive access to allow developers to undermine community led planning decisions, we know we have a real problem. The latest shocking allegations in Rosny show the huge risks at play here.
“When industries with deep pockets get a louder voice than the communities affected by their decisions, public trust in our democracy is eroded.
“This bill is about shining a light on access and influence in NSW politics. It will help ensure decisions are made in the interests of communities, not shaped by whichever industry can afford the most powerful lobbyists.
“There is no credible reason to keep delaying these reforms. NSW needs stronger lobbying laws now.”
The reforms come after years of concern about the influence of powerful industries in NSW politics, including the poker machine lobby’s role in delaying and weakening gambling reform, and as ICAC’s Operation Rosny again puts political access, prohibited donations and developer influence under the spotlight.
The bill would expand lobbying rules to cover more public officials, bring in-house lobbyists into the scheme, establish a dedicated Lobbying and Integrity Commission, strengthen disclosure requirements, and introduce a four-year lobbying exclusion period for former senior public officials.
It would also require stronger records of lobbying activity, including relevant communications with prohibited donors such as property developers and gambling industry entities.
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