The short version
- Newly released data identifies Labor, Coalition, and Nationals members sponsoring access for major fossil fuel firms and gambling lobby groups.
- Transparency campaigners note the initial disclosure covers only about ten percent of existing passes, leaving most lobbying activity unrecorded.
- The partial release follows a review aimed at increasing rigor in how private interests gain entry to Parliament House private offices.
A newly published dataset reveals that members of Australia’s parliament are granting permanent access to the building for representatives of major resource companies and online gambling lobby groups. The disclosure marks the first release of information under updated rules requiring politicians to publicly register when they sponsor lobbyists or private interests for entry passes. While the move was intended to increase transparency regarding who gains privileged access to parliamentary spaces, the initial data provides limited detail and leaves a significant backlog of applications unprocessed.
The records show that Woodside Energy, the nation’s largest fossil fuel producer, holds three access cards. These were sponsored by Labor politicians Meryl Swanson, Glenn Sterle, and Tracey Roberts, as well as Coalition MPs Melissa Price, Rick Wilson, and Susan McDonald. Similarly, the Minerals Council of Australia, a key industry lobby group, has passes sponsored by McDonald alongside Coalition frontbenchers Angie Bell, Matt O’Sullivan, and Ted O’Brien, and Labor’s Dan Repacholi.
Other major energy interests also appear in the register. American oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips has access sponsored by Nationals MP Colin Boyce and Labor’s Mike Freelander. The Australian Energy Producers lobby group is sponsored by David Smith, the member for Bean. Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan sponsors access for Alinta Energy, a role shared with Repacholi. These entries highlight cross-party facilitation of fossil fuel industry presence within parliamentary precincts.
Access for gambling interests is also documented in the release. Two passes for Responsible Wagering Australia, which represents betting operators including bet365, Sportsbet, and Betfair, are sponsored by shadow health minister Anne Ruston and Labor’s Raff Ciccone. Kai Cantwell, the group’s chief lobbyist, previously served as a staffer to Ruston during her tenure in the Morrison government. He was also a key witness in an inquiry examining Labor’s legislation designed to restrict gambling advertising earlier this year.
The new regulations require two MPs to sponsor lobbyists before they can register for a pass. Prior to this change, there was no public transparency regarding the more than 2,000 individuals holding passes that grant access to Parliament House. This lack of visibility had previously caused frustration among some lawmakers, including ACT independent David Pocock, who advocated for clearer oversight of who enters private areas of the building.
A review of access policies was conducted by House speaker Milton Dick and Senate president Sue Lines. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had suggested in March that greater transparency and rigor were needed regarding sponsored pass holders. The current system aims to address these concerns, but critics argue the initial implementation falls short of providing meaningful public insight into lobbying activities.
Transparency advocates point out significant gaps in the new data. The Australian Democracy Network stated that as many as eighty percent of registered lobbyists remain off the register. Christian Slattery, a spokesman for the group, noted that today’s partial disclosure covers only about ten percent of total existing passes. He argued that the system does not yet reveal who elected representatives are meeting with, when these meetings occur, or why they are taking place.
Slattery called for new national laws to govern lobbying conduct and establish a dedicated regulator. The current transparency tool is administered separately by the Attorney-General’s Department, which has faced criticism for its limitations. While journalists working in Parliament House must apply for passes with support from bureau chiefs and endorsement from the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Committee, the broader public still lacks a comprehensive view of political access.
Other notable sponsors include Greens leader David Shoebridge, who supports access for the Australian Peace and Security Forum, a non-profit leading an inquiry into the Aukus defense pact. Labor’s Gordon Reid, Anne Urquhart, Repacholi, and Josh Dolega sponsor passes for the Pharmacy Guild. Ben Oquist, a prominent lobbyist and former Greens staffer, is sponsored by energy minister Chris Bowen and industry minister Tim Ayres. Pocock sponsors passes for several organizations including the Australian Construction Industry Forum and Teach Us Consent Global.
The release of this data represents a step toward accountability but underscores the complexity of regulating political access. With over 1,000 applications still pending processing, the full scope of lobbyist influence remains obscured. As the backlog is cleared, further details may emerge regarding the extent to which private interests are embedded within parliamentary operations.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗MPs granting powerful political lobbyists unfettered access to Australia’s parliament, data reveals
