Aust. MPs should be banned from 'switching sides'

Ministers should be banned from 'switching sides' say the Greens

Government ministers should be prohibited from 'switching sides', and have restrictions on going to work for the industries they regulate, after leaving the Parliament.

"Like in the United States, Ministers should face a lifetime ban on 'switching sides' and representing others on a particular matter, case or transaction over which they had control," said Greg Barber, the Greens Governance and Transparency spokesperson. "We also want to see a cooling off period enshrined in Victorian law, so that Ministers can't work in the industry they were regulating for a period after they leave office, say two years."

"The perception or the reality of the match being fixed, turns ordinary voters off democracy and damages business confidence," said Greg Barber.

"Western Australia, South Australia and Canada have advisory codes. In the US it is L.A.W. law. "

"The NSW Greens consistently raise this issue in the parliament, as does the Independent Commission Against Corruption," said Greg Barber. "The Greens in the Victorian Parliament after November 25 will push for clean politics as well as a clean environment."

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