Pyne’s GC Advisory has been engaged by property developers to fight the state Liberal government’s land tax proposals

This article is more than 11 months old

This article is more than 11 months old

The crossbench senator Rex Patrick has labelled Christopher Pyne’s lobbying of South Australian Liberals on behalf of property developers an “offensive” use of his political connections, while transparency campaigners have renewed calls for a five-year prohibition on post-ministerial lobbying.

Pyne’s GC Advisory has been engaged by a group of influential South Australian property developers to fight the state Liberal government’s land tax proposals, raising eyebrows given Pyne’s recent leading role in the federal Liberal party.

Pyne, a minister in the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments, was a key mentor of the South Australian premier, Steven Marshall, and is often credited with helping his rapid rise to the leadership within three years of entering state parliament in 2010.

Patrick, a South Australian senator, said he did not believe Pyne’s engagement would conflict with the ministerial code of conduct, but it was an “offensive” use of his political connections.

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“It is offensive that he needs to be engaged to convince the South Australian government as to the merits of that particular proposal,” Patrick told Guardian Australia.

“It should not be necessary in Australia that anyone should have to engage someone like Pyne to get access and to advocate their issues – that is not how democracy is supposed to work in this country.

“I just think it is all very, very cosy and it is offensive that a former politician profits on the basis of that cosiness.”

Transparency International Australia said the engagement of Pyne’s firm showed again how “powerful and influential lobbyists have become in shaping Australia’s political and policy landscape”.

“It puts the spotlight on undue influence and raises questions as to whether policy decisions are being made that are in the public interest,” the organisation’s chief executive, Serena Lillywhite, told Guardian Australia. “It shows that powerful industry groups, such as property developers, see the value in hiring well-connected former politicians to do their lobbying.”

Lobbying expert George Rennie, of the University of Melbourne, said former ministers held significant advantages as lobbyists. They had access to privileged information and connections to other ministers that few others would have.

“Not only are current ministers more likely to grant access to former ministers, but research shows that there is a greater chance that they will accede to the lobbying,” Rennie said. “This sort of bias in decision-making is inevitable, but should be minimised where possible.

“This gives them significant and undue sway over decisions, and is part of the reason why some countries – appropriately – prevent ministers from lobbying for up to five years.”

Lillywhite said it was difficult to argue any conflict of interest in situations where a minister was not lobbying in their former portfolio area. She wants to see five-year cooling-off periods preventing former ministers lobbying in related areas after they leave office.

GC Advisory was engaged through a law firm, WRP, to assist five property developers on the land tax issue. Pyne told the Adelaide Advertiser the companies were added to the lobbying register as clients out of an “abundance of caution”.

“We are proud to work with SA companies and individuals who make a great contribution to our states economy,” Pyne said.