Independents To Force Action On Gambling, Lobbying Laws

Independents are pressing hot-button issues such as banning gaming ads, opening ministerial diaries to the general public and suppressing the impact of political lobbyists.


Crossbenchers have actually outlined a list of key priorities if they're re-elected into a hung parliament, telling a transparency forum they'll require the government to act upon the largely untouched concerns.


Reforming lobbying, permitting the national anti-corruption commission to hold public hearings, creating a whistleblower protection authority and having reality in political advertising laws are amongst the targets for crossbench MPs.


This included Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall, Monique Ryan, Andrew Wilkie, Kate Chaney and Senator David Pocock.


Ms Steggall pointed to consumer securities versus misleading and deceptive ads, comparing it with no reality in political marketing laws.


"It resembles we do not value our ballot rights the exact same method as we value our consumer rights," she said.


Senator Pocock called lobbying laws "an absolute joke", stating 80 percent of lobbyists weren't covered by the standard procedure and there were no real charges for misbehavior.


The senator and Dr Ryan have actually pressed in parliament for laws that would open ministerial journals so the general public can learn about ministers consulting with lobbyists.


Ms Spender also called a total restriction on betting advertisements after Labor shelved plans to take action.


"This is a contest between beneficial interests who are winning to date, versus community interests who understand that this requires to be banned and I will defend that," she stated.


Ms Spender is likewise fighting the Australian Electoral Commission for more openness over its findings that a person individual was accountable for sending out some 47,000 unauthorised handouts targeting her in her electorate of Wentworth.


The commission said the individual acted alone, had no link to a political party or candidates contesting the seat and it was thinking about whether to promote civil charges for law after the May 3 election.


Ms Spender expressed issue about keeping the identity concealed, asking "how can citizens think about the source if the AEC will not recognize that source", in reference to the laws requiring authorisation for transparency functions.