The word ‘lobbying’ is just a polite way of saying bribing politicians, and its rife in Australia – big business pays vast sums to politicians, political parties and senior bureaucrats to get some or other favour – such as a grant, subsidy, licence, tariff or other protection.
Lobbying is the inevitable result of both socialist and mixed economies. Whenever politicians have the authority to grant favours, big business will cozy up to them for grants, subsidies, tariff protection, and so on. The way to solve that problem is easy – separate State and the economy – but our main political parties don’t want to do it and neither does big-business, nor our politicians. One side wants money, entertainment and a feeling of importance. The other side wants favours. And when it comes to voting, the voters don’t care.
The current practice of requiring disclosure is not effective. That’s because requiring disclosure of payments does not remove big business’ incentive for lobbying and nor does it stop the recipient (politician or bureaucrat) from making the decision sought by the payer, the big business. Some behavioural scientists have shown that disclosure increases, not reduces, the likelihood of dishonesty. There are also ways around the disclosure requirements – where payments can be made without triggering the need for disclosure. Whenever laws and rules are written, people look for loopholes, ways to get around them. The only way to stop lobbying is to remove the incentive. As soon as big business realises that politicians cannot give them what they want, they’ll stop lobbying. They’ll stop immediately.
A CLA government will implement the following anti-corruption strategy:
One. The most obvious way to tackle the lobbying problem is to create a system of government where big-business has nothing to lobby for, where politicians and senior bureaucrats do not have the power or authority to grant some or other favour – they don’t have the power to provide a grant, subsidy or impose a tariff, etc. This is a system of government that an CLA government will provide – where there will be a separation of State and the economy, and government’s primary focus will be on keeping us safe from attack and protecting our property from theft and damage.
Two. CLA will establish a ‘Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau’ or similar with extensive powers to investigate, arrest and search. This body will be independent and sufficiently funded. Its mission will be to hunt down corruption, no matter how high the rank – nobody will be untouchable, not the prime minister, not State premiers, not cabinet ministers, nor senior public officials.
Three. If politicians or public officials hold assets that are not commensurate with their salary income, they will be presumed to have been bribed. The onus will then be on them to show how they funded the purchase of those assets.
Four. If found to be deficient, appropriate legislation for combating corruption will be enacted.
Five. Strict penalties, including heavy fines and jail time, will be imposed. Given their positions of trust, the standards to which politicians and bureaucrats will be held and the penalties they will suffer for non-compliance will be higher than those applicable to the private sector.