Regulation of Lobbying

In September 2015, The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 commenced. 

It requires that organisations that employ more than ten staff (or if their primary activity is lobbying/advocacy, organisations that employ one or more staff) record all lobbying activity/communications that they engage in with Designated Public Officials (this includes elected officials and senior civil servants and public officials) in the Register of Lobbying.  

The Wheel has produced Factsheet on the Lobbying Register to assist you in identifying if you have any reporting obligations under this new Act -  download this document now.  

The Lobbying regulator has helpfully set out a Three Step Test which you can use to determine whether the Act applies to your organisation or not.  The Wheel strongly advises you to follow this Three Step Test.  If your organisation is engaging in lobbying activity, then you will need to take a systematic approach to recording your lobbying activity over reporting periods. The Act sets out a number of offences for failing to comply. For example, it is an offence to lobby without registering.