Independents To Force Action On Gambling, Lobbying Laws

Independents are pushing hot-button issues such as prohibiting gaming advertisements, opening ministerial journals to the public and curbing the influence of political lobbyists.


Crossbenchers have actually described a list of crucial concerns if they're re-elected into a hung parliament, telling an openness online forum they'll require the federal government to act upon the largely unblemished concerns.


Reforming lobbying, enabling the national anti-corruption commission to hold public hearings, producing a whistleblower protection authority and having reality in political marketing laws are among the targets for crossbench MPs.


This consisted of Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall, Monique Ryan, Andrew Wilkie, Kate Chaney and Senator David Pocock.


Ms Steggall indicated customer securities versus deceptive and misleading ads, comparing it without any truth in political marketing laws.


"It's like we don't value our ballot rights the same method as we value our consumer rights," she said.


Senator Pocock called lobbying laws "an absolute joke", saying 80 per cent of lobbyists weren't covered by the code of conduct and there were no genuine charges for misbehavior.


The senator and Dr Ryan have pressed in parliament for laws that would open ministerial journals so the public can learn about ministers fulfilling with lobbyists.


Ms also named an overall ban on betting advertisements after Labor shelved plans to take action.


"This is a contest in between vested interests who are winning to date, versus community interests who understand that this requires to be banned and I will combat for that," she said.


Ms Spender is likewise battling the Australian Electoral Commission for more openness over its findings that a person person was accountable for sending out some 47,000 unauthorised handouts targeting her in her electorate of Wentworth.


The commission stated the person acted alone, had no link to a political party or prospects objecting to the seat and it was thinking about whether to press for civil penalties for breaking electoral law after the May 3 election.


Ms Spender expressed issue about keeping the identity concealed, asking "how can voters consider the source if the AEC will not determine that source", in reference to the laws requiring authorisation for openness purposes.