Lobbying is a legitimate act of democratic participation which can support informed and inclusive decision making, as described by the OECD in the 2021 report 'Lobbying in the 21st Century'. However, the OECD also acknowledged that lobbying may lead to specific interests being favoured over the public interest.

This policy brief outlines proposed international standards for lobbying regulation, investigates how Australia’s current federal scheme compares, canvasses developments across other jurisdictions and highlights avenues of reform. Of the many countries that introduced or reformed lobbying regulation in the mid-2010s, Ireland’s Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 has been reported as a ‘gold standard’.

Key points

• International standards on lobbying emphasise the need for broad scope, meaningful public reporting, integrity standards for those involved, independent oversight and enforceable penalties.
• Domestic and international lobbying regimes have advanced further than Australia’s federal scheme and may serve as useful models. 
• Reform proposals focus on improving lobbying regulation’s scope and consistency, with a key focus on interoperability and harmonisation across jurisdictions.