Parliament Releases First Access Pass Data
Labor and Coalition MPs sponsored permanent Parliament House passes for resources companies and an online gambling lobby group.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Legislative Policy
Live Poll
Do you trust that lobbyists' access to Australian MPs is kept in check?
Parliament released its first public register of sponsored access passes, disclosing only about 10% of existing passes. Major resources companies and the online gambling lobby group Responsible Wagering Australia hold passes sponsored by Labor and Coalition MPs.
Why it matters
The release follows a review of access policies by the House speaker and Senate president after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called in March for greater transparency of sponsored pass holders. More than 1,000 applications remain unprocessed, leaving the full picture of lobbyist access unclear.
The first release covers about 10% of existing passes across more than 2,000 pass holders. Under the new rules, two MPs must sponsor a lobbyist for a pass to be registered, but the status of over 1,000 applications is not yet known.
The players
Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia and leads the Labor government.
Milton Dick
Milton Dick is the Speaker of the House of Representatives who conducted the review of access policies.
Sue Lines
Sue Lines is the President of the Senate who conducted the review of access policies with the House speaker.
Woodside Energy
Woodside Energy is an Australian oil and gas company that holds three sponsored access cards.
Responsible Wagering Australia
Responsible Wagering Australia is an industry lobby group representing online wagering operators.
The details
Woodside Energy holds three access cards sponsored by Labor and Coalition MPs, while the Minerals Council of Australia and ConocoPhillips also hold sponsored passes. Responsible Wagering Australia holds two passes sponsored by Nationals senator Anne Ruston and Labor MP Raff Ciccone, and its chief lobbyist, Kai Cantwell, is a former staffer to Ruston.
Timeline
March 2026: Albanese called for greater transparency of sponsored pass holders.
Earlier in 2026: Responsible Wagering Australia's chief lobbyist gave key inquiry witness testimony.
3 November 2026: Parliament released its first partial data on sponsored access passes.
Legislative Policy Context
The updated rules require MPs who sponsor lobbyists to be disclosed on a public register, marking a shift toward transparency in parliamentary access. The release shows only a partial picture so far, with most passes and pending applications not yet disclosed.
The public register lets voters see which MPs have sponsored lobbyists and private interests for building access. Those reviewing the register can check which companies and industry groups hold sponsored passes.
The takeaway
Greater transparency over who sponsors lobbyist access to Parliament House gives voters a clearer view of influence on lawmaking. Tracking the processing of the remaining applications will show whether the register becomes complete.
Further reading
Explore more on Legislative Policy to see how rules governing parliamentary access are set and reviewed.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Guardian.
Live Poll
Do you trust that lobbyists' access to Australian MPs is kept in check?
