‘AUKUS is like a feast’: MPs sound alarm over defence industry lobbying | Four Corners Documentary

How do political lobbyists operate in Australia and how much influence do they have over government decisions? The latest Four Corners investigation, Access All Areas, takes viewers inside the opaque business of political lobbyists – where they go, who they meet and what they want. Reporter Mark Willacy investigates Australia’s lobbying industry, including the ‘pay for access’ schemes that allow lobbyists to buy face time with government ministers. Four of the country’s top lobbyists, Simon Banks (Hawker Britton), Christopher Pyne (Pyne & Partners), Eamonn Fitzpatrick (Fitzpatrick & Co Advisory) and Matthew Harris (Barton Deakin) explain how they operate and why they think lobbying makes government more effective. Set against the backdrop of the Albanese government’s gambling reforms package, the program interrogates the lack of transparency around lobbying, why some lobbyists face more scrutiny than others, and the ‘revolving door’ between politics and private enterprise. Critics – including some politicians – say Australia’s system for guarding against undue influence is broken and it’s time for an effective and functional lobbying regime. Four Corners is the ABC's flagship investigative journalism program, delivering in-depth investigations into the issues, people and events shaping Australia and the world. For more than 60 years, Four Corners has exposed wrongdoing, held power to account and uncovered stories of national and international significance through independent, public-interest journalism, original reporting and exclusive investigations. Watch more full-length Four Corners investigations and ABC documentaries free and ad-free on ABC iview. Search "ABC iview" on your smart TV or streaming device, find the ABC iview app on your mobile, or click here: https://iview.abc.net.au/