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March 08, 2007
John Warhurst in an op-ed in the Canberra Times addresses the implications of corruption in the lobbying industry, which I have raised here. He says that:
Burke and Grill's activities themselves are, to my mind, more important in the long run than the question of the links between the twice-disgraced Burke and Kevin Rudd and/or Senator Ian Campbell, to name just two. What they reveal is the depths to which such senior public figures, a former premier and former senior minister respectively, have fallen ... What they also reveal is the weakness of the public office-holders, especially ministers, and businessmen who have dealt with the corrupt lobbyists.
The mention of corruption points toward something rotten. Warhurst then mentions well known recent examples across the nation to show that the corruption is systematic within the lobby industry as opposed to a few rotten apples. However, Parliament appears to be little interested in wiping off the taint of corruption-- to clean up lobbyists' act and rein in the influence of corrupting practices, such as 'you get us a $1 million dollar deal' and we'll raise $50,000 for your campaign coffers.
Warhurst goes on to say that:
All political parties must take some share of the blame for this state of affairs. The prevailing political culture appears to condone it or at least regards it as a necessary evil. But Labor must take the larger share of the responsibility for the current situation. This added culpability may be just because it holds office in all eight state and territory governments (mathematically that would be so); but its record in this regard is truly awful. It needs to clean up its act.
Federal Labor could take the lead on this. Will it embrace the opportunity to show its reform creditionals? It has shown little inclination to ensure that a more comprehensive lobbyist disclosure regime operates in our liberal democracy. However, Kevin Rudd says a comprehensive national register of lobbyists, listing their clients and the politicians they meet, is needed to "clear up" their activities.
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Australian politics is heading down the American road. Labor lost its virginity in this respect back in the 1980's, when Hawke, Keating and Richardson started hobnobbing with big business money interests. The flood gates opened, especially in NSW and WA. Remember when Bondy and Hawky were bosom buddies? A story of the corrupt and the corrupted. Instead of the 'Golden State', WA will now be unofficially re-labeled as the 'Shonky State'.
BTW, Whatever happenned to Richo and his shady Swiss bank accounts? While the Aust govt is busy offshoring Aust jobs, the rich and well off (including ex-politicians and sports personalities) appear to be busy offshoring their assets to tax havens.