12 Feb 2024

Lobbyists to be allowed swipe card access to Parliament

From Morning Report, 7:09 am on 12 February 2024

Parliament's Speaker Gerry Brownlee is overturning the blanket ban on lobbyists having swipe card access to Parliament.

Swipe card access to Parliament for lobbyists was removed by the previous Speaker Adrian Rurawhe last year, after a request from Labour Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.

Brownlee's move comes as the Ministry of Justice draws up a new code of conduct for lobbyists aimed at increasing ethical standards and transparency in the industry.

Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith declined our invitation to come on the programme.

In a statement he says the Ministry of Justice has been working on a voluntary lobbying code and he expects work to be finished by April.

Investigative Journalist Guyon Espiner spoke to Corin Dann.