Just when everyone was getting sick of hearing the Government talk about bread and butter ad nauseam, the Prime Minister has found a meaty beltway issue to get stuck into
Last month Chris Hipkins insisted lobbyists got no greater access to MPs than the public, and he doubled down on that on Monday.
Instead, the Prime Minister says it’s “perception” he wants to fix, and that’s why he’s found ways to try and crack down on lobbyists, who might appear to have influence or access.
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He’s written to the Speaker and asked for those in the business, non-government, and union sectors to have their swipe card access to Parliament removed.
About 80, many of them lobbyists and government relations-types, have the electronic key to the building currently - though where that key gets them in the building is fairly limited.
Hipkins also wants to put taxpayer money towards helping lobbyists establish a voluntary code of conduct.
In addition, the Cabinet Manual will be refreshed and published this month to include clear expectations for ministers in relation to conduct and decisions when considering future employment.
Hipkins hasn’t ruled out cool-down periods being made mandatory and legislating so that lobbyists must declare their clients on their websites.
This is his way of trying to address concerns around politicians moving straight from the Cabinet table to the lobbying office.
The most recent example of that is former Cabinet minister Kris Faafoi who left Parliament last year and started at lobbying firm, Dialogue 22, within four months.
Just a few weeks ago Hipkins defended the revolving door, saying people had to make a living.
National supports swipe card access being removed but want the changes to go further to include stand-down periods for former ministers and a register, so lobbyists must declare their clients.
This is strategic from the Opposition because it suggests it's a problem that needs fixing on this Government's watch, even though this sort of lobbying has existed across all administrations for decades.
Both of National’s recommendations may yet happen with Hipkins commissioning a wider piece of work to look at policy options for regulating lobbying in the future.
That work will be led by the Ministry of Justice and advice isn’t expected back until 2024.
Hipkins hasn’t ruled out cool-down periods being made mandatory and legislating so that lobbyists must declare their clients on their websites.
The biggest hurdle for the ministry is working out how to define a lobbyist.
Hipkins himself acknowledged there are many layers of lobbying, citing the example of a teacher going to see their local MP versus a union rep, or a sector leader or professional lobbyist.
Finally National and Labour both agree on an issue and how it needs fixing, and it is as far away from bread and butter as they can get.
And none of the crackdowns proposed acknowledge the fact most professional lobbyists have personal relationships with a range of MPs and don’t need a swipe card to get a meeting.
Much of their work can be done via social circles, drinks at events that include MPs or a simple text message or phone call.
The reason lobbyists get meetings is because they know who to ask or can ask the minister direct.
That’s a bi-product of living in a small country and no legislation is going to change that.
ACT leader David Seymour says much of this response from Hipkins is due to “moral panic” around the Stuart Nash saga of the past few weeks and creating new layers of bureaucracy will only lead to worse transparency overall.
He says a voluntary code of conduct for lobbyists is fine, but he wouldn’t want it to be mandatory as creating more rules for professional lobbyists means they find workarounds and it “just makes it harder for the average person”.
Given Nash was sacked for passing on sensitive and confidential Cabinet information to donors – not lobbyists – Monday's announcement isn't directly linked, but Hipkins has a wider issue he’s trying to clean up.
The complete 180 on thinking lobbying needed fixing hasn’t popped up out of nowhere.
Hipkins has spent the past three weeks dealing with a distraction that doesn’t paint his Cabinet in a good light and he’ll be hoping his tinkering with lobbyists’ access will look like he’s tackling that perception problem head-on.
Monday’s announcement doesn’t have a lot of teeth and it will be after the election before anything of substance is proposed by the officials tasked with doing the longer-term work.
Now though, instead of talking about the email Nash’s office didn’t release as part of an Official Information Act request and accusations of a cover-up, the conversation has moved to the dark art of lobbying and front-footing any perceived greater access to politicians.
Finally National and Labour both agree on an issue and how it needs fixing, and it is as far away from bread and butter as they can get.
