Australia's Parliament House Opens Books on Lobbyist Access

A newly released public register has identified the members of parliament who sponsor permanent access passes for powerful industry lobbyists in Australia.

The data, released on Tuesday, shows that major resources companies and gambling industry groups hold direct access to the private offices of Parliament House. This access is granted under updated rules that require two MPs to sponsor each applicant. The register names the specific politicians backing these requests, providing a level of detail that was previously unavailable to the public.

Woodside Energy, Australia's largest fossil fuel producer, holds three access cards. These are sponsored by Labor MPs Meryl Swanson, Glenn Sterle, and Tracey Roberts, as well as Coalition MPs Melissa Price, Rick Wilson, and Susan McDonald. The Minerals Council of Australia also secured passes with sponsorship from Coalition frontbenchers Angie Bell, Matt O'Sullivan, and Ted O'Brien, along with Labor's Dan Repacholi and Susan McDonald.

International energy interests are also represented on the list. ConocoPhillips has access sponsored by Nationals MP Colin Boyce and Labor's Mike Freelander. The Australian Energy Producers lobby group is backed by David Smith, the member for Bean. Alinta Energy holds a pass sponsored by Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan and Repacholi.

The gambling sector features prominently in the initial data. Responsible Wagering Australia, which represents betting operators including bet365, Sportsbet, and Betfair, holds two passes. These are sponsored by Shadow health minister Anne Ruston and Labor's Raff Ciccone. Kai Cantwell, the group's chief lobbyist, served as a staffer to Ruston during the Morrison government and acted as a key witness in an earlier inquiry into gambling advertising legislation.

The register includes figures from across the political spectrum. Ben Oquist, a former Greens staffer and husband of Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, is sponsored by Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Industry Minister Tim Ayres. Greens leader David Shoebridge sponsors access for the Australian Peace and Security Forum. Independent David Pocock sponsors passes for the Australian Construction Industry Forum, Bees and Blossoms, Queensland University of Technology, and Teach Us Consent Global. The Pharmacy Guild holds two passes signed by Labor MPs Gordon Reid, Anne Urquhart, Repacholi, and Josh Dolega.

Transparency campaigners have noted that the initial release covers only a fraction of the total access holders. Christian Slattery of the Australian Democracy Network stated that the partial disclosure covers about 10% of existing passes. He noted that a backlog of more than 1,000 applications remains unprocessed. Slattery said the current system does not provide meaningful information about who representatives meet with or why, and he called for new national laws and a dedicated regulator to oversee lobbying conduct.

The policies governing access to private areas were reviewed by House speaker Milton Dick and Senate president Sue Lines. In March, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated that greater transparency and rigour were needed for sponsored pass holders. Journalists working in the building also apply for access passes, requiring support from a bureau chief or editor and endorsement from the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Committee.