Media Release: Ministerial Diaries Disclosure Reform Call Supported a Third Time by Upper House

Ministerial Diaries Disclosure Reform Call Supported a Third Time by Upper House

Tuesday, 23 September 2025

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today welcomed the Legislative Council vote supporting her call for the current ministerial diaries disclosure system to be reformed, to improve the performative transparency of the current model.

“Given this is the third time in three years the Upper House has called for genuine reform to strengthen our ministerial diaries disclosure system, it is time for the Rockliff government to respect the Parliament and act,” Ms Webb said.

“This is a straightforward call for public consultation to be undertaken on how best to reform our ministerial diaries disclosure system to make it more timely, accessible and transparent.

“Tasmanians deserve better, more comprehensive, rigorous and reliable transparency and accountability mechanisms to build community confidence in political decision-making.

“For a government led by a Premier who likes to claim they are the most transparent government ever, why is this so difficult it requires three votes in as many years?

“Ultimately, all this motion is calling for is that we have a ministerial diary disclosure system which lives up to its name.”

Media Contact: A.Mark Thomas, M&M Communications, 0422 006 732

Text of Motion tabled by Meg Webb MLC and to be debated on Tuesday 23 September 2025:

1). That the Legislative Council notes the resolutions of this House on the 28 March 2023 and on 10 September 2024 requesting the Tasmanian Government undertake to introduce mandated requirements for the regular and routine disclosure of all Ministerial and Cabinet Secretary official diaries, detailing scheduled meetings, and their purpose, with stakeholders and organisations, including third parties and lobbyists; and when developing this disclosure regime to also;

(a) ensure the process is informed by best practice examples of mandatory disclosure of Ministerial diary requirements established in other jurisdictions, including examples of oversight and compliance requirements; and

(b) develop and publicly consult on a proposed Tasmanian mandatory disclosure of Ministerial diaries scheme.

2). That the Legislative Council further notes that:

(a) The Tasmanian Government failed to report progress to this House by the 28 November last year as requested by the 10 September resolution;

(b) public consultation on a proposed Tasmanian mandatory disclosure of Ministerial diaries scheme did not occur; and

(c) despite the Tasmanian Government introducing quarterly routine disclosure of Ministerial diaries commencing with the January/March 2023 quarter; the current routine disclosures of Ministerial diaries system is not mandatory under statute; does not occur in a reliable and timely manner; and the format and details disclosed remain deficient.

3). That the Legislative Council also notes, given the failure to implement the Integrity Commission’s Lobbyist Code of Conduct reforms this year, the growing urgency for clear, timely and transparent disclosure of lobbying contact between government, advisors and lobbyists.

4). And that the Legislative Council calls on the Tasmanian government to:

(a) undertake comprehensive and public consultation as a priority on a best practice mandatory disclosure of Ministerial diaries model, and that process is to provide for input into the design, disclosure details, timeliness, application, and any other related matter; and

(b) report back to the Legislative Council by 5 December 2025 in relation to the above.

A Background Briefing Paper: Who Has Access to the Ministerial Ear? can be viewed below or as a pdf here