Penalties are needed to toughen the code of conduct governing the work of lobbyists, Labor says.
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A bipartisan committee on Tuesday released a report examining rules around lobbyists, who are required to abide by a conduct code and register on a public list.
The committee found the register is important to "ensure that contact between lobbyists and Australian government representatives is conducted in accordance with public expectations of transparency, integrity and honesty".
The bipartisan report called for the attorney-general's department to provide, within six months, an update on how it is progressing improvements to the scheme, including the better use of technology and risk management procedures.
But it stopped short of calling for tougher penalties.
Committee chair and Liberal MP Lucy Wicks told parliament it was important that all regulators had good information-gathering systems, took a "not too heavy, not too light" approach and ensured they met public governance standards.
"The balance can be hard to achieve," she said.
However, audit committee deputy chair Julian Hill went further saying laws are needed to enforce the code, including penalties for non-compliance.
He told parliament the "she'll be right" approach did not work.
"Lobbying is a legitimate activity, but it must be undertaken transparently, to enhance integrity and prevent corruption, and the Morrison government has for years failed to act on this or a national anti-corruption commission," Mr Hill said.
The scheme's operators to date have focused on awareness and communication rather than enforcement.
An auditor-general report suggested the government consider whether the code should have a statutory basis, something backed in by Labor members in their supplementary report.
"It is the strong view of the Labor members of this committee that the administration of the register and the code should be strengthened to ensure (they)... are more proactively administered and enforced," the MPs wrote.
A statutory basis would improve the design of the scheme, provide greater confidence in its independence and enable civil penalties, they said.
Australian Associated Press
