NSW proposes registration rules for council lobbyists

New South Wales announced lobbying reforms on October 12 that would extend registration requirements to third-party lobbyists dealing with local councils.

The package would formally designate the state Electoral Commission as lobbying regulator and strengthen its auditing powers. Government agencies and officials could be required to provide records for compliance checks.

Certain senior public servants could face restrictions of up to six months on moving into private jobs connected to their former duties. Ministerial meeting disclosures would become searchable and include fundraising events offering private access to ministers.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that in-house lobbyists would remain exempt from registration rules and ministerial staff would not face the proposed six-month employment restriction. The government describes the package as legislative and policy reforms, rather than rules already in force.