Lobbying has the potential to play a legitimate role in policy-making by giving various groups in the community a voice to inform lawmakers and enhance the operation of democratic processes.

In reality, over time, the ways in which lobbyists and peak industry bodies engage with the government now includes the transfer of large sums of money through political donations.

Throughout this analysis, references to ‘lobbying’, include both the kind of lobbying currently captured by the Commonwealth’s regulatory regime, as well as actual lobbying – lobbying that would be captured by an optimal regulatory regime. Specifically, any attempt to influence the decision-making of parliamentarians – regardless of whether it is undertaken by a third-party lobbyist, an in-house lobbyist, a peak body or a not-for-profit organisation. 

This briefing paper shows the extent to which those who lobby also donate to the major political parties, with some $43.5 million disclosed by the industry since 1998/99.