Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda[Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]
2023 -- 2024
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Lobbying (Improving Government Honesty and Trust)
Bill 2024
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
and
STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Circulated by authority of
Dr Monique Ryan MP
Lobbying (Improving Government Honesty and Trust) Bill 2024
Background to the Bill
1. There is increasing public concern that our Government and its representatives lack
honesty and integrity. Our communities commonly believe that the political system
has no interest in being open because it operates for politicians and those with
vested interests. These concerns and beliefs have led to louder calls for
Government decision-making to be made transparent, and for those individuals
making the decisions to be held accountable.
2. Perceptions have worsened in recent years about the pervasive influence that
lobbyists have over political decision-making. Certainly, advocacy in and of itself is
a legitimate contribution to the democratic process, bringing diverse perspectives to
government representatives to inform policy development and decision
making. However, the practice of lobbying and its role in decision-making must be
made more transparent to ensure that Government decisions are taken in the public
interest and not unduly influenced by private interests or by external direction
unknown to the public.
3. The current Federal Code of Conduct for lobbyists is severely limited. It applies to
registered professional lobbyists acting on behalf of third-party clients, but it does
not apply to most lobbying activity; for instance, that undertaken by businesses and
industry bodies. It does not apply to in-house lobbyists.
4. Furthermore, while the identities of registered lobbyists and their clients are
published on a register, there is a lack of transparency regarding their lobbying
activity and access to government.
5. There are no meaningful consequences for breaching the Federal Code of Conduct.
6. The responsibility for making the impact of lobbying transparent, and decision-
makers accountable for their actions, must be borne by both Government and
lobbyists themselves.
7. There is presently no consistent or visible way of knowing which corporate or
stakeholder groups are meeting with Ministers. The risk of conflicts of interest, and
bias in decision-making, are further heightened when former politicians, senior
political staff or high-ranking government officials take on roles in the private sector
and then engage in Government lobbying on behalf of a private entity.
8. The publication of Ministerial diaries is a vital transparency -- and accountability --
measure. Voters should know who their Ministers and senior Ministerial advisers
are meeting with and why those meetings are occurring. However, unlike New
South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory, there is currently no
Commonwealth legislative requirement to publish Ministerial diaries.
9. The publication of lobbyists' meetings with government is also an important
transparency measure which will militate against secrecy in government decision-
making. The public deserves to be able to see who is lobbying, to whom, when, and
about what. At present, that is not possible.
10. When former politicians, senior political staff and high-ranking government officials
take on roles in the private sector upon leaving Government, and then engage in
lobbying on behalf of a private entity, this heightens the perception of possible
conflicts of interests and bias. At present, the Federal Code of Conduct provides
that Ministers must not -- for 18 months after leaving office -- engage in lobbying
activities relating to any matter in which they had official dealings. For Ministerial
adviser level and above, members of the Australian Defence Force at Colonel level
or above, an agency head, or person employed under the Public Service Act
1999 in the Senior Executive Service, that period is 12 months.
11. At present, lobbyists can work in senior campaign advisory positions during an
election period, then -- immediately after the election -- return to the private sector
to lobby the Government. At a minimum, this practice creates an unavoidable
perception of bias in the mind of the public, and more broadly contributes to the
diminution of our democracy by corroding community confidence in Government.
Outline of the Bill
This Bill introduces several measures.
1. It enhances the integrity of Government decision-making by extending the Register
of Lobbyists to include registered professional lobbyists acting on behalf of third
parties, services firms, and lobbyists acting on behalf of businesses and industry
bodies ('in house lobbyists').
2. It enhances transparency and accountability by setting out the information that must
be included on the Register of Lobbyists. The Register must include names of
lobbyists, and it requires that a person be identified as a professional lobbyist, an in-
house lobbyist and/or a former Government representative.
3. It enhances transparency by prohibiting lobbying by an unregistered lobbyist. It
makes it an offence for a person who is not registered to engage in lobbying
activities with a Government representative, if that person is a professional lobbyist,
or employed or engaged by a professional lobbyist.
4. It enhances transparency and accountability by requiring lobbyists to prepare a
quarterly return that must be uploaded to the publicly searchable online Register of
Lobbyists. It must detail all meetings with members of parliament and their senior
advisers must, note the key issues discussed, and specify those persons in
attendance.
5. It promotes the integrity of lobbying activities by requiring lobbyists to disclose
details such as the ownership structure and major shareholders of the entities being
represented, and ordinarily (with some exceptions) the names of the third-party
clients.
6. It restricts the giving of gifts and hospitality by lobbyists to Government
representatives.
7. It restricts lobbying activities in circumstances where a lobbyist has a close
relationship with the Government representative being lobbied, and, a sense of
obligation towards the lobbyist could reasonably be expected to subsist because of
that close relationship.
8. It requires the publication of Ministers' diaries, such that meetings with both
registered and non-registered lobbyists are disclosed. All meetings with
stakeholders, external organisations and lobbyists that relate to the Minister's
responsibilities must be listed. This includes meetings held at office and offsite,
scheduled phone calls, and events where a Minister attends in an official capacity.
All events and functions attended by the Minister (or Parliamentary Secretary) that
relate to their Ministerial responsibilities must also be included in their diaries. (This
clause extends the publication requirement to Parliamentary Secretaries because a
Parliamentary Secretary is a Minister under s4 of the Ministers of State Act 1952.)
9. It extends the post-employment cooling-off period for former Ministers and senior
government officials and advisers to three years, in keeping with international best
practice.
10. It provides the National Anti-Corruption Commission with the ability to investigate
alleged breaches of the legislation.
11. It imposes sanctions for breaches including fines and suspension or revocation of
registration.
Financial Impact
The Bill will have no financial impact.
Notes on Clauses
Part 1 Preliminary
Clause 1 Short Title
This clause provides for the Bill, when enacted, to be cited as the Lobbying (Improving
Government Honesty and Trust) Act 2024.
Clause 2 Commencement
Subsection 2(1) provides that each provision of the Act specified in column 1 of the table
commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table.
Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Item 1 in the Table provides that the whole of the Act will commence the day after the day
on which the Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated under an Act to the Department
in which the Act is administered for payment for the purposes of the Act.
Subsection 2(2) provides that any information in column 3 of the table is not part of the
Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any
published version of the Act.
Clause 3 Objects of the Act
The principal aim of the Act is to promote and enhance transparency, integrity, and honesty
in dealings between lobbyists and the Government.
The Act:
a. provides for the registration of lobbyists, with details to be made publicly available
on an online register
b. requires detailed quarterly lobbying returns to be prepared and uploaded to the
register by all registered lobbyists
c. ensures that registered lobbyists comply with appropriate standards of conduct
when engaging in lobbying activities with Government representatives
d. requires the publication of Ministerial diaries on a periodic basis
e. requires the Australian Government Directory to include entries for current and
former senior Ministerial staffers
f. restricts lobbying by certain former Government representatives
g. restricts lobbying and inappropriate practices of Ministers after ceasing to be
Ministers
h. restricts lobbying and inappropriate practices of senior Government advisers after
ceasing to be senior Government advisers
i. provides for enforcement of the Act, including through the imposition of appropriate
penalties.
Clause 4 Simplified outline of this Act
This clause provides a simplified outline of the Act.
Clause 5 Crown to be bound
This clause provides that the Act binds the Crown in right of the Commonwealth.
Clause 6 Application
This clause provides that the Act applies both within and outside Australia, and only
applies to lobbying activities after the commencement of the Act.
The Act does not require a Government representative to have dealings with a lobbyist/s
and it does not limit communication with a person if a law requires a Government
representative to take account of the views advanced by a person.
Clause 7 Extended geographical jurisdiction for offences
This clause provides that section 15.1 of the Criminal Code will apply to all offences under
the Act.
Part 2 Definitions
Clause 8 Definitions
This clause defines terms and expressions used throughout the Act to avoid doubt and to
clarify the intended meaning of each word for the specific purposes of the Act.
Critical definitions that apply to the operation of the Act and may assist in the reading of
this Explanatory Memorandum include:
a. Government decision-making includes the making of a decision in relation to: the
proposing, making, or amending of legislation; the proposing, developing, or
amending of an Australian government policy or program; the awarding of an
Australian government contract; and the granting or allocation of funding.
b. Government representative means any of the following: a parliamentarian; a
person employed or engaged by a parliamentarian under the Members of
Parliament (Staff) Act 1984; an Agency Head or a person employed under the
Public Service Act 1999; a person engaged as a contractor or consultant by a
Commonwealth entity, or a member of the Australian Defence Force.
Clause 9 Meaning of lobbying activity
This clause defines the meaning of lobbying activity for the purposes of the Act. It provides
that it means any activity undertaken with a Government representative for the purpose of
influencing Government decision-making.
This clause excludes various activities from the definition of lobbying activity, including
such things as: communicating with a committee of Parliament; communicating in one's
capacity as a constituent; responding to tender or submission requests; and
communicating as part of an activity of a grassroots campaign nature in an attempt to
influence an Australian government policy or decision.
Clause 10 Meaning of lobbyist
This clause defines the meaning of lobbyist. It provides that lobbyist includes professional
lobbyists and in-house lobbyists.
A professional lobbyist is a person who undertakes lobbying activities on behalf of a
third-party client, or the person employs or engages another person to undertake lobbying
activities on behalf of a third-party client.
The meaning of an in-house lobbyist is dependent upon an entity meeting certain
requirements as well as the person employed as a lobbyist by that entity.
The entity must incur expenditure of at least $100,000 for the current financial year, or for
any of the last 3 financial years, on remuneration for officers, employees, or contractors
who, as a significant part of their role, undertake or direct lobbying activities for the entity
or have an annual revenue of at least $5 million for the current financial or for any of the
last 3 financial years; or be an industry association.
The person must be an officer, employee, or contractor of the entity. They must spend at
least 8 hours in a calendar month undertaking or directing lobbying activities for the entity
for at least 3 calendar months in the current financial year, or in any of the last 3 financial
years.
Importantly, a member of a trade delegation visiting Australia is not regarded as a lobbyist.
Similarly, a person who provides technical or professional services as a member of a
technical or professional occupation -- such as medicine, law, or accountancy -- is not
regarded as a lobbyist if the undertaking of lobbying activities is occasional and incidental
only.
Part 3 Regulation of lobbying activities and related practices
Clause 11 Lobbying activity by unregistered lobbyists prohibited
This clause provides that a person commits an offence if they undertake lobbying activities
with or in relation to a Government representative and they are a professional lobbyist or
an in-house lobbyist and are not registered.
Clause 12 Certain former Government representatives must not engage in lobbying
activities or related practices
This clause provides -- amongst other things -- that a person commits an offence if for 3
years after ceasing to be a Minister they engage in lobbying activities with a Government
representative on matters on which they had official dealings in their Ministerial role. It is
also an offence to provide advice or information to assist a lobbyist on an aspect of work
for a department or agency for which they held Ministerial responsibility. Moreover, it is an
offence for the Minister to provide advice or information about projects or contracts for
which they held Ministerial responsibility for their own financial or commercial advantage.
Similar provisions exist in this clause for senior Government advisers. They are defined as
senior Ministerial advisers, Agency Heads, SES employees of a Commonwealth entity, or
a member of the ADF with a rank of Colonel or above. A senior Ministerial adviser is
someone classified as a member of senior staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff)
Act 1984
Clause 13 Undertaking lobbying activities
Principles
This clause provides that a lobbyist must observe several principles. They include that the
lobbyist:
a. must not engage in conduct that is corrupt, dishonest or illegal
b. must not engage in conduct that unlawfully causes or threatens detriment to
another person
c. must use all reasonable endeavours to satisfy themselves of the truth and accuracy
of all statements and information provided by them to their clients, members of the
public, or Government representatives
d. must keep their lobbying activities separate from any activities the lobbyist or
person engages in in a personal capacity or on behalf of a political party
e. must inform the Government representative before engaging in lobbying activities
that:
i. the person is a registered lobbyist
ii. the names of each client on behalf of whom the person is engaging in the
lobbying activities
iii. the nature of the matters that each client wishes them to raise with the
Government representative; and
iv. if the lobbyist or person is prohibited from engaging in certain lobbying
activities under section 12
f. must not provide a gift or hospitality directly or indirectly to the Government
representative, unless the gift is of low value and is given as a token of appreciation
or as a promotional item
g. any other principle prescribed by the rules.
Close relationship
This clause also requires that a registered lobbyist or listed person must not undertake
lobbying activities with, or in relation to, a Government representative if the Government
representative would reasonably be seen to have a close relationship with the lobbyist and
a sense of obligation towards the lobbyist because of that close relationship would be
expected.
Role in Election Campaign
The section requires that an in-house lobbyist or listed person must not perform both a
substantial role in an election campaign, and work as an in-house lobbyist or as listed
person of a professional lobbyist during the period from the time the writs are issued for a
general election until 6 months after the election. If an in-house lobbyist or listed person
does choose to undertake a substantial role in an election campaign, then they may
request that the Commissioner suspend their registration as a registered lobbyist for that
period.
Clause 14 Obligations of Government representatives
This clause provides that a Government representative cannot engage in lobbying
activities with a person unless that person is registered or listed as a lobbyist, and that
person has told the Government representative the names of the client/s on whose behalf
they are representing.
A Government representative who becomes aware of a contravention of this Bill must refer
the matter to the Commissioner.
Part 4 Registration
Division 1 -- Register of Lobbyists
Clause 15 Establishment of Register
This clause provides that the Commissioner must establish an electronic Register of
Lobbyists that is published on the website of the Department administered by the Attorney
General.
Clause 16 Information to be included on the Register
This clause sets out the information that must be contained in the Register for each
registered lobbyist. It also includes the circumstances in which such information need not
be included.
Clause 17 Information from quarterly returns to be included on the Register
This clause establishes the requirement for a lobbyist to give the Commissioner a quarterly
return that discloses the number of lobbying activities undertaken by a lobbyist or listed
person for the preceding quarter. For each activity the following must be disclosed:
a. details about the topic of the activity and the desired outcome
b. the name of each Government representative the activity was with, or relates to
c. the form of any communication as part of the activity
d. the day or days the activity happened
e. the names of the persons directing and undertaking the activity.
There are further obligations if the lobbyist is a professional lobbyist. They include the
disclosure of the name and ABN of their third-party clients as well as, in the case of those
clients that are body corporates, the details of any controlled entities of those clients.
Division 2 -- Registration Process
Clause 18 Application for Registration
This clause sets out the method by which a lobbyist applies for registration and the
documentation required to support the application. It includes a requirement for a statutory
declaration that, among other things, requires a person to declare that they have not
previously committed a serious contravention of the Act.
Clause 19 Registration
This clause sets out when the Commissioner is required to register a lobbyist and the
circumstances in which a lobbyist may be refused registration.
Division 3 -- Updating the Register
Clause 20 Notification of changes to registration details
This clause requires that an amendment to the register be notified by the lobbyist to the
Commissioner within 10 business days and that a person commits an offence if they fail to
do so.
Clause 21 Periodic confirmation of registration details
This clause provides that confirmation of lobbyist registration details will occur each year in
February and July. In July there is an additional requirement for lobbyists to complete a
new statutory declaration as per clause 18.
Division 4 -- Variation, suspension, or cancellation of registration
Clause 22 Variation, suspension, or cancellation of registration
This clause provides that a lobbyist's registration can be varied, suspended, or cancelled
at the initiative of the Commissioner, or by the Minister as directed to the Commissioner.
The Minister must state the reasons why they are proposing this course of action and
request that the lobbyist show cause as to why the change should not take place.
Part 5 Other transparency requirements
Clause 23 Requirement to publish Ministerial diaries
This clause provides that Ministers must publish their diaries each calendar month.
The information that must be contained in the diaries includes all meetings with
stakeholders, external organisations and lobbyists that relate to the Minister's
responsibilities, including:
a. meetings held in person, by videoconference, teleconference, or telephone call
b. meetings attended by the Minister or by an adviser to the Minister
c. details of who attended each meeting and the key matters discussed.
The diary must also disclose all events and functions attended by the Minister that relate to
the Minister's responsibilities.
Clause 24 Requirement for Australian Government Directory to include entries for
current and former senior Ministerial staffers
This clause provides that the Australian Government Directory show the name of each
senior Ministerial staffer and former senior Ministerial staffer in such a way that links the
staff to the Minister's entry in the Australian Government Directory. For former senior
Ministerial staffers, their employment cessation date must be noted, and these details
must be maintained for 3 years post-cessation.
Part 6 Enforcement
Clause 25 Referral of alleged contravention
This clause provides that, if a person reasonably believes someone has contravened the
Act, they must refer the matter to the Commissioner.
Clause 26 Investigations by the Commissioner
This clause provides that the Commissioner may instigate an investigation on its own
initiative or in response to a referral under s25.
Part 7 Miscellaneous
Clause 27 Review of decisions
This clause provides that a lobbyist may make an application to the Administrative Review
Tribunal for review of a decision by the Commissioner not to register a lobbyist, or to vary,
suspend, or cancel a lobbyist's registration.
Similarly, such an application can be made to review a decision of the Minister to direct the
Commissioner not to register a lobbyist or to vary, suspend or cancel a lobbyist's
registration.
Clause 28 Treatment of partnerships
This clause provides how a partnership, and its partners, are to be regarded under the Act.
Clause 29 Treatment of unincorporated associations
This clause provides how unincorporated associations are to be regarded under the Act.
Clause 30 Annual report
This clause provides that when the Commissioner is preparing a report under the Public
Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2103 in relation to the National Anti-
Corruption Commission for a particular period, it must include information about the
operation of this Act for the same period.
Clause 31 Review of the Operation of the Act by an expert panel
This clause provides that the Minister must cause an independent review of the Act by an
expert panel within three years of the commencement of the Act.
It must also include an opportunity for members of the public to make written submissions
about the operation of the Act.
The report of the review must be tabled before each House of Parliament within 7 days of
the House having reviewed the Report.
Clause 32 Appointment of members of the expert panel
This clause provides that a three-person expert panel must conduct the independent
review of the operation of the Act. Those appointed to the panel must have expertise or
experience in one or more of the following areas: community advocacy and engagement;
legal and regulatory compliance; or contemporary issues relating to lobbying.
However, none of the following is permitted to be on the panel: a current officer or
employee of a registered political party, a registered lobbyist or listed person, or a current
or former parliamentarian.
The Minister must first propose the expert members they intend to appoint to a
parliamentary committee -- whose role covers the kinds of matters set out in the objects of
the Act. This committee must notify the Minister if it supports or vetoes the appointments
and, if it vetoes an appointment/s, it must propose two alternatives for each person vetoed.
Clause 33 Rules
This clause provides that a Minister may make rules prescribing matters, amongst other
things, that are necessary or convenient for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act
2011
Lobbying (Improving Government Honesty and Trust) Bill 2024
The Bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the
international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny)
Act 2011.
Overview of the Bill
This Bill introduces several measures.
1. It enhances the integrity of Government decision-making by extending the Register
of Lobbyists to include registered professional lobbyists acting on behalf of third
parties, services firms, and lobbyists acting on behalf of businesses and industry
bodies ('in house lobbyists').
2. It enhances transparency and accountability by setting out the information that must
be included on the Register of Lobbyists. The Register must include names of
lobbyists, and it requires that a person be identified as a professional lobbyist, an in-
house lobbyist and/or a former Government representative.
3. It enhances transparency by prohibiting lobbying by an unregistered lobbyist. It
makes it an offence for a person who is not registered to engage in lobbying
activities with a Government representative, if that person is a professional lobbyist,
or employed or engaged by a professional lobbyist.
4. It enhances transparency and accountability by requiring lobbyists to prepare a
quarterly return that must be uploaded to the publicly searchable online Register of
Lobbyists. It must detail all meetings with members of parliament and their senior
advisers must, note the key issues discussed, and specify those persons in
attendance.
5. It promotes the integrity of lobbying activities by requiring lobbyists to disclose
details such as the ownership structure and major shareholders of the entities being
represented, and ordinarily (with some exceptions) the names of the third-party
clients.
6. It restricts the giving of gifts and hospitality by lobbyists to Government
representatives.
7. It restricts lobbying activities in circumstances where a lobbyist has a close
relationship with the Government representative being lobbied, and, a sense of
obligation towards the lobbyist could reasonably be expected to subsist because of
that close relationship.
8. It requires the publication of Ministers' diaries, such that meetings with both
registered and non-registered lobbyists are disclosed. All meetings with
stakeholders, external organisations and lobbyists that relate to the Minister's
responsibilities must be listed. This includes meetings held at office and offsite,
scheduled phone calls, and events where a Minister attends in an official capacity.
All events and functions attended by the Minister (or Parliamentary Secretary) that
relate to their Ministerial responsibilities must also be included in their diaries. (This
clause extends the publication requirement to Parliamentary Secretaries because a
Parliamentary Secretary is a Minister under s4 of the Ministers of State Act 1952.)
9. It extends the post-employment cooling off period for former Ministers and senior
government officials and advisers to three years, in keeping with international best
practice.
10. It provides the National Anti-Corruption Commission with the ability to investigate
alleged breaches of the legislation.
11. It imposes sanctions for breaches including fines and suspension or revocation of
registration.
Human rights implications
1. The amendments proposed in this Bill may engage the following rights under the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):
• the right to freedom of expression (Part III, Article 19, Section 2); and
• the right to take part in public affairs (Part III, Article 25).
The right to freedom of expression
2. The right to freedom of expression is contained in Article 19 of the ICCPR. It
includes the 'freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds,'
regardless of medium (Article 19(1), ICCPR).
3. This right may be engaged because the Bill seeks to limit freedom of expression by:
a. imposing limitations on the ability of parties to undertake lobbying activities --
and thereby impart and receive information -- in circumstances where they are
not registered to do so; and
b. otherwise, by imposing limits on the giving of gifts and hospitality which may
reduce the influence that might otherwise be exerted.
4. It is well established at law that the right to freedom of expression is not absolute and
may be limited by law.
5. The right of a person to express their view, in circumstances where those views may
influence government decision-making in such a way that is not transparent, must be
balanced against the need to protect the public from a diminution in confidence in the
political system, a perception of a lack of integrity in Government, and an actual lack
of transparency in the decision-making of Government. Each of these factors
contributes to the corrosion of democracy and faith in democratic principles and must
be avoided.
6. The lobbying measures in the Bill -- whilst imposing reporting requirements upon
parties who meet with Government representatives -- do not limit the ability of those
parties to express their views in circumstances where they meet those reporting
requirements. Neither do they otherwise impose restrictions on individuals
expressing political views or contributing to public discourse.
7. The registration and reporting requirements imposed by the Bill, to the extent that
they limit a party's freedom of expression, are reasonable and proportionate.
The right to take part in public affairs
8. The right to take part in public affairs is contained in Article 25 of the ICCPR. This
right provides that 'every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any
of the distinctions mentioned in Article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions, to
take part in the conduct of public affairs directly or through freely chosen
representatives.' None of the distinctions mentioned in Article 2 of the IPCC are
relevant to the provisions of this Bill.
9. This right is closely related to the right to freedom of expression. This Bill seeks to
limit the right to take part in public affairs to the extent that it prohibits certain parties
from lobbying -- which is to say meeting with Government representatives if they are
not registered or do not otherwise comply with the initial and ongoing requirements of
registration.
10. It does not otherwise impose restrictions on individuals expressing political views or
contributing to public discourse on elections.
11. As is the case with a limitation on the freedom of expression, this limitation is
necessary because the right to take part in public affairs must be balanced against
the need to protect the public from a diminution in confidence in the political system,
a perception of a lack of integrity in Government, and a lack of transparency in
governmental decision-making. Each of these factors contributes to the corrosion of
democracy and a loss of belief in democratic principles.
12. When balanced against these factors, the registration and reporting requirements
imposed by the Bill which create limitations on the ability of parties to freely take part
in the conduct of public affairs, are reasonable and proportionate.
Conclusion
This Bill is compatible with human rights because to the extent that it may limit human
rights, those limitations are reasonable, necessary, and proportionate.
Dr Monique Ryan, MP