MPs Grant Unfettered Parliament Access to Resource Giants and Gambling Lobby, Data Shows

Newly released data reveals that Labor and Coalition MPs are sponsoring permanent access passes to Parliament House for Australia's largest resource companies and the lobby group representing online gambling giants. The disclosure, mandated by updated rules, shows MPs from both major parties facilitating entry for powerful private interests, raising concerns about political influence and transparency. While the register is meant to shed light on who has access to parliament's private offices, Tuesday's initial release provided limited detail, with a backlog of over 1,000 applications still unprocessed. This incomplete picture underscores the challenge of holding lobbyists accountable. The presence of resource and gambling industry representatives in the corridors of power matters because these sectors are heavily regulated and frequently seek favorable policy outcomes. As more data becomes available, voters and watchdogs will be watching to see which MPs are opening doors to which interests—and what they get in return.