State capture occurs when powerful or wealthy interests interfere with decision-making and assume a degree of control over the democratic rule-making process itself. This report breaks down six modes of influence used in State capture.

This report explores how the powerful fossil fuel, gambling and tobacco industries are attempting to take advantage of Australia’s weak integrity laws, thereby distorting the nation's democratic processes, to put profits ahead of society's wellbeing.

Regulation of political lobbying is a significant corruption challenge for governments, according to this article, but if done successfully can enhance political equality and improve fairness of government policy-making by increasing transparency in the disclosure of lobbying activities.

This report on Operation Eclipse is an investigation into the regulation of lobbying, access and influence in New South Wales. It examines factors that could either allow, encourage or cause corrupt conduct, or detract from the integrity and good repute of public administration.

This report calls for new rules to extend the prohibition on former cabinet ministers lobbying government, new enforcement powers to ensure ministerial rules are followed, and greater transparency surrounding the outside interests of civil servants.

Exploring the history and evolution of lobbying regulation in Australian federal and state jurisdictions, this article develops a conceptual framework to evaluate lobbying regulation based on the form of regulation, the standards it imposes, and compliance processes.

This policy brief provides an overview of the National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board (NCC), as well as specific problems entailed by its appointment process, composition, lack of transparency and lack of legislative underpinning.

The objective of this audit was to examine the effectiveness of the Attorney-General’s Department’s implementation of the recommendations from the Auditor-General Report, Management of the Australian Government’s Register of Lobbyists.

In Australia, trust in government is at an all-time low. The are many causes of declining trust. Globalisation and cultural anxiety are part of the story, as is the changing media landscape. But the actions and inactions of politicians are also part of the problem...

In this article, former Canadian ambassador to China, David Mulroney, argues that Canada is facing a growing threat with regards to foreign influence and interference. In particular, he warns that China is expanding its capacity to meddle in Canadian affairs. He goes on to suggest...

More than one-third of people registered on the Australian government Register of Lobbyists have previously been government representatives. This article aims to explore the incidence of the ‘revolving door’ phenomenon, whereby individuals move between positions in government and positions in the Australian alcohol, food and...

Governments seeking to implement public health policy often face intense lobbying from industries vying to protect commercial interests. This article outlines some insights into ways in which governments can strike the right balance to deliver better health and social outcomes, and how public health advocates...

The borderless nature of the internet, coupled with narrow defnitions of advertising and interference, means the tobacco industry still uses online and social media to sell and promote its products, highlight supposed corporate social responsibility practices, and challenge public health views and policies.

Australian politics' 'revolving door' is undermining efforts to counter lobbying and potential corruption, and the regulation system is hopelessly flawed.

The industries and organisations that get what they want from government. In part two we stay in Canberra and look at the lobbyists, the industries and organisations most effective at getting what they want from the government. We also look at the revolving door between...

This report analyses the extent to which the coal industry is embedded in Australian federal politics. It demonstrates how coal’s pivotal position in key networks of influence has enabled its interests to remain central to the climate and energy policy agenda of the Morrison Government.

The Australian public supports stronger gun control and stricter restrictions and laws on firearms. Despite this, there is a real danger of our firearm laws being watered down. This report provides an account of the political strategies of the gun lobby.

Powerful and well-resourced business groups, unions and not-for-profits are influencing policy in Australia to serve their interests, sometimes at the expense of the public interest. Stronger checks and balances on policy influence are needed, to make Australian politics cleaner and fairer.

The advice and information in this toolkit is drawn from the wisdom and experiences of parliamentarians and advocates. This is a collection of practical tips and policy building advice that will help you shape policy for the better.

This research set out to find out whether the Lobbying Act is directly affecting charity and voluntary organisations’ ability to campaign. The evidence found that it is.