Democracy is fragile, and people’s faith in it is easily corroded. Globally, trust in government is at an all-time low.

Australians increasingly believe that our political system works for those who work within it and for those with vested interests.

In 2022, Australia elected the largest crossbench in our history because electorates like Kooyong wanted greater transparency and integrity in government. 

In the 47th Parliament, I’ve worked with the government and my crossbench colleagues to improve the National Anti-Corruption Commission legislation. I’ve proposed a private members bill to improve transparency over lobbyists’ activities, to open Ministerial diaries, and close the revolving door between senior jobs in government and industry. I twice seconded Dr Helen Haines’ private member’s bill to stop pork-barrelling. I’ve supported other crossbench colleagues’ bills for meaningful and fair reform of electoral donations, preventing jobs for mates, and better whistleblower protections. All were developed in consultation with integrity bodies and legal experts. None were accepted for further debate by the Albanese Government.

The major parties don’t want to engage with meaningful political reform. Only a strong and independent crossbench will improve integrity and transparency and restore trust in our government. We’ll work together—effectively and pragmatically—on the integrity issues which matter to our electorates. 

It’s extraordinary that it’s legal to lie in political advertising in this country. Some politicians are deliberately choosing to mislead voters. Legislation for truth in political advertising should be an immediate focus of the next parliament.

My priorities: 

• The next parliament must legislate for truth in political advertising in this country.

• I’ll continue to work for greater transparency over lobbyists’ activities and to close the revolving door between ministerial appointments and lucrative private sector jobs.
• We need a stronger NACC which holds public hearings whenever they are clearly in the public interest. 
• I’ll work for transparent government spending, less waste, and an end to pork-barrelling.
• We need reform of political campaign funding, to ensure transparency and a level playing field for all candidates
• Australia needs an independent Whistleblower Protection Authority. 
• We must provide more support for the Australian National Audit Office’s independent scrutiny of the NACC and other government bodies. 

Establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Commission

The need for a national watchdog for corrupt behaviour by public servants and politicians was a major issue at the 2022 federal election.

Neither major party had a plan for a national anti-corruption commission before independents made it a key issue in 2022. Establishment of the NACC was a key pillar of my campaign at the last election. 

The power of community support for integrity, transparency, and accountability in government—in Kooyong, and many other electorates around Australia—directly led to establishment of the NACC. 

In its first year of operation, it received more than 3,000 referrals and conducted 47 corruption investigations. Five have already gone on to court proceedings, and two have resulted in convictions – but there’s clearly more work to be done to ensure the NACC operates to the standards Australians expect, to ensure it is a foundational institution advancing government integrity.

Lobbying (Improving Government Honesty and Trust) Bill (the Clean Up Politics Act): 

Lobbying is a legitimate contribution to the democratic process, but it should be transparent.

The Federal Lobbying Code of Conduct applies to only 20% of the lobbyists who roam the corridors of Parliament House— there are 15 lobbyists for every Member and Senator.

We don’t know who they meet, or how they affect public policy. Without that knowledge and transparency, Australians doubt the independence and merit of government decisions. The ‘revolving door’ between parliament and lucrative private sector jobs is corrosive of trust. Ministers and senior public servants shouldn’t use insider knowledge for personal gain after leaving public office, or make decisions prior to leaving government which could help their employer-to-be.

I’ve put my Clean Up Politics private member’s bill—the Lobbying (Improving Government Honesty and Trust) Bill—before parliament twice. It will remain a major focus for me in the 48th Parliament.

It will: 

• Create a publicly-accessible register for all lobbyists actively engaging with federal parliamentarians, showing who they’ve met with, where, and why. 
• Publish ministers’ diaries online, so we know who they’ve met with. 
• Ban ministers and senior public servants from working as lobbyists in the area where they’ve worked in government for three years after they leave parliament.

The major parties don’t want to act on this issue. Only the crossbench will improve transparency and integrity, and restore trust in government.