There are 227 members of parliament compared to 705 lobbyists working for specialised firms — plus thousands more who lobby in-house for companies, unions and industry associations. Identified in Parliament House by their orange access passes, they are free to wander the halls, governed not by laws but by a code of conduct. The standard of regulation in the industry has been deplored by both integrity experts and independent politicians.
"The current code of conduct for lobbyists is about as strong and effective and cohesive as a wet tissue," said Monique Ryan, the independent Member for Kooyong. Independent MP Monique Ryan says the lobbying bill would be a central focus for the rest of her first term in office. Restricting lobbyists from playing substantial roles in election campaigns. The Commonwealth system was described in a report by the National Audit Office in 2020 as a "light touch" approach to regulation. In the US, breaches of lobbying laws can result in fines and even prison sentences