Who are the four lobbyists with Parliamentary swipe cards?

Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, February 12th, 2024 - 23 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, national, nicola willis, Parliament, same old national, taxpayers union - Tags:

Well call me surprised. National has reversed Labour’s tightening of rules around lobbyists and have given four lobbyists Parliamentary swipe cards. And refused to say who they are.

In April of last year then Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced the rules relating to swipe cards would be toughened up. From One News:

Hipkins said he would write to the Speaker Adrian Rurawhe to request the removal of swipe card access to Parliament for business, non-government sector and union representatives.

Currently, Parliament and Beehive workers – including, staffers, security, the parliamentary service, the parliamentary press gallery, former MPs and their spouses – have key card access to the precinct.

Lobbyists, business and political representatives are also included on an approved visitor list – such as those from Russell McVeagh lawyers, the NZ Bankers Association, Zespri, Air New Zealand, the Insurance Council of New Zealand and the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Hipkins also said the Government would offer support to “third-party lobbyists” to establish a voluntary code of conduct and the beginning of “long-term work on policy options to regulate lobbying”.

He said a “refreshed” Cabinet Manual would be published in April that set “clear expectations for ministers in relation to conduct and decisions when considering future employment”.

The announcements follow reporting on lobbyists and their influence by RNZ.

“It’s very important we have a sensible and transparent system that does not give the impression that lobbyists enjoy an unfair advantage over other New Zealanders.

Such was Labour’s commitment to open democracy there is even a Parliamentary web page with the names of people with swipe cards. The list has not been updated since before the last election.

At the time National said that the steps were inadequate. According to Nicola Willis:

I think New Zealanders should feel that they have as much access to politicians as those lobbyists do, and National will be supporting the Speaker to remove that special access right, we think that makes sense.”

But this Government is busily winding back the reforms and decreasing transparency. From Guyon Espiner at Radio New Zealand:

The identities of people allowed to freely come and go from Parliament have been made secret by the new Speaker.

Gerry Brownlee told RNZ he did not agree with the blanket ban on lobbyists having swipe card access and some discretion was needed.

He had approved swipe card access for about four new people, who he said could be described as having lobbying roles. But they were not employed by professional lobbying firms and largely had jobs assisting parties in Parliament.

He would not be “facilitating commercial activities” for lobbying firms. But in a departure from previous Speakers, Brownlee said he wouldn’t publish the ‘approved visitor list’ of people with swipe card access to Parliament, in order to protect their privacy.

Citing privacy concerns the new speaker Gerry Brownlee has declined to name who they are. Which means that we can engage in completely unsourced speculation.

Top of the list for a new card must be Taxpayer Union and Atlas adherant Jordan Williams. He seems to be everywhere right now. I guess with a 2022 income of $2.85 million and reserves of $1 million his activity is not surprising.

And how about former NZ First staffer and current tobacco lobbyist Api Dawson? Casey Costello’s policy changes do not write themselves.

Also possibly in the mix are consultants assisting Act in its dog whistle Treaty Principles Bill. We are going to have at least six months of racist dog whistling dressed up in the language of rights and reasonability.

And don’t forget Atlas Network representatives although the first rule of the Atlas Network is don’t talk about the Atlas Network.

And what has happened to the proactive release of Ministerial diaries? If you go to the Beehive website and check there are no details posted although to be fair there was always a three month lag so perhaps they will start next month. Although maybe not.

The announcement is deeply cynical, retrograde and shows a distinct lack of commitment to the principle of open democracy. I trust that Bryce Edwards will be all over this.

23 comments on “Who are the four lobbyists with Parliamentary swipe cards? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. adam 1
    12 February 2024 at 12:35 pm

    Why do the Tory scum lie so easily?

    And why do we let them get away with it?

    • thinker 1.1
      12 February 2024 at 5:23 pm

      Technically, they're not lying.

      They're just refusing to tell the truth.

      Still, shame on the media for not doing an OIA request. Even if the list is deemed confidential due to one of the official reasons, there would be a story of interest.

      Under OIA, information is deemed to be releasable unless there is a good reason not to release it. Which, as far as I am aware, would need to be stated as part of any decline.

      • adam 1.1.1
        12 February 2024 at 11:14 pm

        You and I have vastly different definitions of what constituents a lie.

        As for you're attempt to blame the media – lying (used as noun) in the first instance would avoid a OIA, and the ability for people to cover for those who misled, or deceive.

        The reality is a part of our culture is to go back on deal/rip people off, and not honour your word. This is now so common place for this Tory scum government or Co-operative of Corporate Cocksuckers what ever you want to call them. That anything they say or do is not to be trusted – just like when people lie, and others try to cover it for them.

  2. tc 2
    12 February 2024 at 12:38 pm

    I'm sure Bryce will be all over it mickey probably with some linguistic contortions as to why this is a good idea. He's another useful tool.

  3. gsays 3
    12 February 2024 at 12:41 pm

    What is the solution? We have outfits that we admire and want to have heard eg Forest and Bird, E Tu or other unions

    After all, these lobbying types don't need to enter parliament to do their lowlife activities.

    Another contentious point is the lobbying or influence of the non-elected public servants. I understand they are a common target too.

    • Robert Guyton 3.1
      12 February 2024 at 12:45 pm

      The issue is immediacy of access and time allotted.

      Forest & Bird can't just rock up any old time and expect to spend a couple of hours bending a politicians ear.

      These 4 can.

  4. Tiger Mountain 4
    12 February 2024 at 1:18 pm

    Mr Brownlee allowing various spivs and spruikers to have swipe access was not unexpected, but the non disclosure of who is slithering in and out should be of concern.

    Lobbyists are undermining democracy in my view with their special pleading and interaction with political parties and politicians that an ‘ordinary’ voter does not get.

    Who are the 4? SirKey, Tobacco, Oil, Farming?…and the list has to grow with this Govt.

    • tc 4.1
      12 February 2024 at 1:42 pm

      Well as mickey suggests Jordy probably takes top spot with tobacco, transport and mining the likely other 3.

      Time to pay the piper for the coalition, out of taxpayers funds of course.

      • roblogic 4.1.1
        14 February 2024 at 12:16 am

        Most of the 'lobbyists' are already part of this administration

        Let’s not forget that the chief press secretary in Minister of Energy Simeon Brown’s office is Ben Craven, ex NZ Initiative, Taxpayers Union & Energy Resources Aotearoa.
        —@mikejbain

  5. Mike the Lefty 5
    12 February 2024 at 1:27 pm

    "Consultants?????"

    Didn't the NACTZ make a big thing about the Labour government's use of consultants? We will kick out the consultants, save lotsa money, they told us.

    Not practising what they preach, I see.

    Oh well, I suppose all the rules change when YOU hold the reins.

    • Descendant Of Smith 5.1
      12 February 2024 at 7:45 pm

      Labour paid consultants.

      These consultants pay National/NZ/ACT.

      Quite a different type of relationship.

    • James Simpson 5.2
      13 February 2024 at 9:58 am

      I think you will find its the other way around.

      These are the people that pay thousands to National each year. Now they expect a return on their investment.

      As part of that payment they are given direct access to Ministers.

    • Georgecom 5.3
      14 February 2024 at 9:21 am

      What? Expecting National to do in power what they say in opposition? Bit of an imposition isn't it. Preposterous

  6. Ghostwhowalks 6
    12 February 2024 at 1:54 pm

    "But they were not employed by professional lobbying firms and largely had jobs assisting parties in Parliament."

    My guess is Williams , Farrar, and maybe 2 more with Federated Farmers and some mining group/property investors – who lobby but arent professional lobby firms.

  7. Bryan Dods 7
    12 February 2024 at 3:06 pm

    re: Ministerial diaries – " to be fair there was always a three month lag" Very convenient for MPs who after that length of time figure they can use the "I cannot recall" escape.

    I assume all corridors are monitored by CCTV for security purposes. For how long are the recordings saved? It wouldn’t happen to be three months, would it? That would give every opportunity to distort written records as desired.

  8. Stephen D 8
    12 February 2024 at 3:10 pm

    Do they have name suppresion, or could some enterprising journalist name some names?

  9. bwaghorn 9
    12 February 2024 at 4:16 pm

    Can't wait to see willis, bluff her way out of this one !!

  10. Janice 10
    12 February 2024 at 5:44 pm

    I wonder if they have paid a deposit on the cards.

  11. newsense 11
    12 February 2024 at 7:07 pm

    Comedy gold:

    I trust that Bryce Edwards will be all over this.

    Surely wouldn’t want to trash all the money they get from Sean Plunket’s thing?

    Also something funny about the other thread on transport. I can understand a Wayne Brown- two good Anglo Saxon names, and so must be a person.
    But it’s of much confusion to me what a Simeon is, not being a name from the cultures native to New Zealand. Is it a person or a new design of sofa? Simeon Brown, a feel of Manhattan with caramel cushions. It’s not Steven, John or Paul is it now?

    Perhaps we can either petition them to change the spokesperson or at least get them to change their name to one easily understood in our culture. Luke, perhaps or Michael or Peter.

  12. Tony Veitch 12
    12 February 2024 at 7:27 pm

    My pick, though only for 2 of the 4, would be Craig Renny, of the CTU and Russel Norman of Greenpeace. /s

  13. newsense 13
    12 February 2024 at 11:04 pm

    Me. Findlay sir! You forgot the fishing, car and trucking lobbies. They too have invested in public insurance on their profitability. It’s not all about tobacco and property. There is plenty of evil to go around!

    https://theconversation.com/a-slide-in-global-corruption-rankings-is-bad-for-brand-nz-what-can-the-government-do-222995

  14. Bazza64 14
    13 February 2024 at 6:24 pm

    Only 2 access cards given out to lobbyists from Green Party & Maori Party according to Gerry Brownlee.

    Assuming this is correct, then no nasty RW lobbyists getting into parliament with access cards (yet)

    But like the Rodents (Rattus Norvegicus) infecting Dunedin South Countdown (and providing further diversity & inclusion of species occupying the building) the RW lobbyists will eventually appear.

    Like the rodents not recommended you pat them.

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