by frog
Last week, the Speaker Dr Lockwood Smith sent ‘our Russel’ a letter saying that seven lobbyists with access to the parliamentary precinct did not want their names out in the public domain. The Speaker’s Office contacted the lobbyists after Russel wrote to them concerned that eight people have special passes that give them access to the Parliamentary complex to lobby MPs. Of course, the card access is but a smaller part of the lobbying issue – knowing who these lobbyists work for is just as important.
Given these back-room peddlers of influence have decided to stay in the shadows, I as a computer-literate frog have been doing a little research and have found a few lobbyists that tout on their website that they can influence politicians – so maybe some of the secret seven are in here or maybe not.
First up are some lobbyists who admit to having cards and lobbying – for who exactly remains a mystery.
Saunders and Unsworth are well-known lobbyists and interestingly Mr Unsworth has pointed out to the media he has had a pass for 15 years. Working for them is ex-MP Roger Sowry who according to their blurb is: “exceptionally well placed to add value to clients wishing to deal with and influence policy, officials and politicians.”
Also very well known is Chen and Palmer, and I don’t know if they have a pass or even if they are flavour of the month any more. One of the partners of this firm is former Labour Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer. These guys are were well connected to the previous Government but are willing to take business from all sides as the furore over the Whangamata Marina showed. Chen and Palmer ended up acting for the Marina developers and greatly assisted overturning a decision by then Conservation Minister David Benson-Pope Chris Carter.
Another recognisable lobbyist is Matthew Hooton. Whether he has much time for lobbying this week is a moot point given the efforts he has put in to finding out who handed Dr Don’s emails to ace researcher Nicky Hager.
Mr Hooton would certainly be well placed to bend most current Government MPs ears with his excellent links within the National Party. Mr Hooton’s company prides themselves on an aggressive approach to achieving their clients’ objectives including “public policy change”. It is unknown if Mr Hooton has swipe access.
Some well-known lobbyist firms – although not necessarily to the general public - are people like Busby Ramshaw Grice. One of BRG’s head honchos Paul Plummer is described as knowing how “organisations can gain access to the political process in order to contribute to the development of public policy, or influence the decision-making process.” It is unknown if any of BRG’s minions has swipe access.
Senate Communications are another high profile Wellington lobbying firm. Mark Blackham heads up Senate’s government relations team. According to the website:
[Mark] has more than 15 years’ experience in communications counselling – directly to Prime Ministers and other leading New Zealand politicians and to some of the world’s biggest brand names in industries such as pharmaceuticals and healthcare, alcohol, food and beverage, banking and finance, telecommunications and technology.
It is unknown if any of Senate have swipe access.
Many large law firms also tout themselves as having the ears of Ministers – indeed current Minister of Land Information Richard Worth once headed up a large law-firm – Simpson Grierson. Simpson Grierson are big on touting the special ins they have with parliamentary movers and shakers.
Our connections with prime movers in government circles and the market profile of a number of our practice groups has meant that the government of the day has taken note of our views about different policy and legislative developments. Recently this has included our published comments in areas such as employment relations, innovation and tax.
Bell Gully, Kensington Swan and Russell McVeagh are just a few of the other big law firms touting their services in a similar vein.
It is unknown if any of the above legal eagles have swipe access to your Parliament.
The lobbyists above are really corporate mercenaries (unregulated ones!) – out touting their business to the highest bidder and we have no idea who is hiring them. Heck, we have no idea who is even wandering around the same parliamentary corridors, and that’s concerning ‘cos frogs aren’t very big and can get squashed under corporate stilettos and shiny patent leather shoes pretty easily.
At least if I get crushed under Business Roundtable lobbyist Roger Kerr’s feet I will know that he has had to cue up for his stickers like anyone else – well that’s at least what this frog understands – the Roundtable haven’t got free access to Parliament…yet.
Published in Justice & Democracy | Parliament by frog on Mon, May 11th, 2009
Tags: Chen Palmer, Lobbyists, Lockwood Smith, matthew hooton, Russel Norman, Saunders Unsworth
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Interesting information frog!
Wasn’t it Chris Carter’s decision that was overturned by David Benson-Pope?
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Correction: then Conservation Minister Chris Carter was overturned by the High Court on judicial review. He then handed the issue over to Environment Minister David Benson-Pope to remake, and David approved the marina. Public land was privatised; and indigenous ecosystems dredged.
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I felt really sorry for Chris Carter over that issue – he was really doing his job as the Conservation Minister and he got hammered over it.
It was a pretty disgusting outcome for resource management all up actually.
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More Green hypocrisy
Green lobbyists = Good.
Other lobbyists = Bad.
No doubt you had no issues at all when that know liar and con man Al Gore “lobbied” the government.
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This used to be on the progressive party site:
“I remember, with some anger I must admit, the huge effort put into lobbying Members of Parliament before the 1999 law change which radically liberalized alcohol retailing and cut the alcohol purchasing age to the social detriment of young New Zealanders.
“That’s why when I saw this person from the Beer, Wine & Spirits Council wandering around Parliament with an official parliamentary pass around her neck earlier this year, as if she were some kind of official staff member, I asked my staff to make enquiries.
“The way I saw it was that if the Chief Executive of the Hospice Association, or the Chief Executive of Save The Children Fund, who often appropriately come to Parliament to lobby MPs to outline their concerns, aspirations and hopes, aren’t entitled to an official photo ID allowing them to walk around Parliamentary offices any time of the day or night as they like, then why on Earth should a Liquor Industry official?
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Absolutely disgusting. All lobbying should be done on line following a format so we can all evaluate. Open society/ closed society.
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ps I heard geofrey Palmer earned about $1000 per hour doing his work for Parliament ?
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There you go again big blow, making sh*t up. The Greens are calling for a register, not a ban, so we all know who is lobbying the govt and on behalf of whom. Surely even you might think that would be good?
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“Leading UK economist and writer Philippe Legrain is visiting New Zealand in May to take part in a number of discussions on the economic benefits of diversity.”
“Given the current economic forecasts, New Zealand needs to consider how it might reinvigorate the economy and gain a competitive edge in the global market. One such consideration is diversity, in particular ethnic diversity, which can be a stimulant for economic growth for countries that manage and utilise it effectively,” says Mervin Singham, Director Office of Ethnic Affairs.
http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=99&id=36518
Haven’t we done that already?
but this is really about
Immigration cuts ‘would be a huge mistake’
A visiting economist is warning that restricting immigration during the recession would be a huge mistake for New Zealand. (duration: 2′42″)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ckpt/2009/05/11/immigration_cuts_would_be_a_huge_mistake
and who benefits from that: developers, property investors, immigration agents , banks etc, etc
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Hears something for Act members (or should that be Don’t Act?)
Join us for the 2009 Investment Adventurer Series. We’ll be visiting 15 centres around New Zealand during June and July. All proceeds will go to a local charity.
In this year’s seminar we’ll cover:
Climate Change – Fact or Fiction, Natural or Manmade? For his recent book, Poles Apart, Gareth commissioned the best scientists in the world – both alarmists and critics – to argue their respective cases. Gareth will talk about being a juror at this technical trial, and how he and fellow author John McCrystal reached their verdict.
* A pear-shaped economy and an L-shaped recession. Gareth will share his insight and opinion on the changing shape of our financial landscape. He’ll also cover the Kiwi obsession: Where to now for housing?
*
Register now at http://www.gmshows.co.nz
$20 per seat. Seats are limited and admission is not guaranteed without registration.
Locations for 2009 Seminars: Invercargill, Dunedin, Timaru, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Palmerston North, Napier, New Plymouth, Gisborne, Hamilton, Tauranga, Auckland, North Shore, Whangarei.
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Big Bro in the back row heckling
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Is that what he’s doing!
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Russel – brilliant ‘outing’ of Lee over the Waterview! Slam dunk!
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BB, the issue is not lobbying as such. Everyone lobbies. You and I lobby when we write a letter to the paper, or to our local MP. The issue is one of disparity of power. To put in in terms you will understand; when animal rights groups wanted to put our views across to (then) minister Jim Sutton, we were continually shut out of discussions. When the Egg Producers Federation, or the NZ Pork Board, or any other factory farming lobby group wish to speak to the minister, or high up officials, they lay on the red carpet.
When Wellington Animal Action took video footage of a ig farm belonging to animal abuser and NZ Pork Board bigwig Colin Kaye of Kuku Beach Rd, Levin, showing that the stalls were under the legal limit allowed, MAF were given cosy lunches of sandwiches by Pork Board bosses and gently “persuaded” to change the law. Wellington Animal Action, as the complainant, heard nothing about this.
The New Zealand Egg Producers Federation spent over half a million dollars persuading politicians that hens actually like being in battery cages. The government overturned the Regulations Review Committee based on legal bullying from these corporate thugs.
Russell’s response is actually quite tame. He only wants to know who the lobbyists are. If I was in charge I would ban professional lobbyists altogether, or put a cap on spending on lobbying similar to the one on electioneering.
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Last night on the box a political commentator opined that, ‘it’s essential to vote’. But how can any thinking person want to give power to the self-seeking crew that we can choose from? The disadvantages of ‘democracy’ have never been more evident.
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# jh Says:
May 11th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
> ps I heard geofrey Palmer earned about $1000 per hour doing his work for Parliament ?
are you sure he earned $1000 per hour, as opposed to merely getting paid that much?
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kiore1 Says:
May 11th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
> When the Egg Producers Federation, or the NZ Pork Board, or any other factory farming lobby group wish to speak to the minister, or high up officials, they lay on the red carpet.
are there any hens on the board of the Egg Producers Federation? many of New Zealand’s most prolific egg producers are hens.
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….aha, knew i’d find it…
“When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to
be bought and sold are legislators.”: P. J. O’Rourke-
(1947- ) US humorist, journalist, & political commentator
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Oh frog!
IMHO, one of your best pieces yet … *bows to superior talent*
and how they have howled at the audacity of having light shone into their spotless minds ….
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