Changes to the revised Code of Conduct and Directives - effective 17 September 2026

The following details the updates made to the Revised Code and Directives 03/26 and 06/26. The changes are minimal and do not impact the current obligations of lobbyists.

During the adjustment period, non-compliance with a new or changed requirement (compared with the pre-1 July 2026 Code) will not be subject to regulatory action and will not be considered in any later regulatory action. Lobbyists who have been complying with the Code since 1 July 2026 do not need to change their current practices.

Changes to the Code of Conduct

1 July 2026 version	Revised version effective 17 September 2026
18. Lobbyists will not lobby representatives where the representative could reasonably be seen to have a sense of obligation towards the lobbyist, including because of: a close personal relationship between the lobbyist and the representative; or paid or unpaid political work the lobbyist has done directly for the representative in the last 2 years. Note: The Integrity Act imposes restrictions and obligations on registered lobbyists who perform or intend to perform a substantial role in the election campaign of a political party. See: section 49 (Disqualification of individual engaged in dual hatting) section 58 (Registered lobbyist must not perform substantial role in election campaign of political party) section 66A (Individual who is registered lobbyist must give notice of intention to perform substantial role in election campaign).	18. Lobbyists shall not place government representatives or Opposition representatives in a conflict of interest by proposing or undertaking any action that would constitute an improper influence on them.
21. Lobbyists will not offer or provide, either directly or indirectly, any gifts or benefits to representatives they lobby or expect to lobby, other than modest gifts or benefits that a member of the public would consider reasonable to offer or provide in the circumstances. In complying with this standard, lobbyists will have regard to relevant policies and procedures applying to representatives and will make sure any gifts or benefits they offer or provide to representatives are consistent with these. Note: Relevant policies and procedures impose certain obligations on representatives regarding the acceptance and disclosure of gifts and benefits — see, for example, the Gifts and Benefits Directive and Gifts and Benefits Guideline for the Queensland public service, the Queensland Ministerial Handbook (section 3.7), and the Queensland Parliament’s Code of Ethical Standards. For the purposes of this Code, gifts and benefits do not include political donations made in accordance with the Electoral Act 1992 (Qld) or the Local Government Electoral Act 2011 (Qld).	21. Lobbyists should inform themselves of the policies of the Queensland Government and local governments restricting the acceptance of gifts by officials.

1 July 2026 version

Revised version effective 17 September 2026

18. Lobbyists will not lobby representatives where the representative could reasonably be seen to have a sense of obligation towards the lobbyist, including because of:

a close personal relationship between the lobbyist and the representative; or
paid or unpaid political work the lobbyist has done directly for the representative in the last 2 years.

Note: The Integrity Act imposes restrictions and obligations on registered lobbyists who perform or intend to perform a substantial role in the election campaign of a political party. See:

section 49 (Disqualification of individual engaged in dual hatting)
section 58 (Registered lobbyist must not perform substantial role in election campaign of political party)
section 66A (Individual who is registered lobbyist must give notice of intention to perform substantial role in election campaign).

18. Lobbyists shall not place government representatives or Opposition representatives in a conflict of interest by proposing or undertaking any action that would constitute an improper influence on them.

21. Lobbyists will not offer or provide, either directly or indirectly, any gifts or benefits to representatives they lobby or expect to lobby, other than modest gifts or benefits that a member of the public would consider reasonable to offer or provide in the circumstances. In complying with this standard, lobbyists will have regard to relevant policies and procedures applying to representatives and will make sure any gifts or benefits they offer or provide to representatives are consistent with these.

Note: Relevant policies and procedures impose certain obligations on representatives regarding the acceptance and disclosure of gifts and benefits — see, for example, the Gifts and Benefits Directive and Gifts and Benefits Guideline for the Queensland public service, the Queensland Ministerial Handbook (section 3.7), and the Queensland Parliament’s Code of Ethical Standards.

For the purposes of this Code, gifts and benefits do not include political donations made in accordance with the Electoral Act 1992 (Qld) or the Local Government Electoral Act 2011 (Qld).

21. Lobbyists should inform themselves of the policies of the Queensland Government and local governments restricting the acceptance of gifts by officials.

Changes to Directives

Directive 03/26: Use of official business channels

This directive has been updated to provide greater clarity about what constitutes an official business channel, but lobbyists’ obligations have not changed. The updated directive clarifies that, unless a representative has expressly authorised otherwise, a registered lobbyist must not contact the representative other than through an official business channel.

Directive 06/26: Recording lobbying activities in the Queensland Lobbying Register

This directive has been updated to clarify what type of information should be entered in the commercial-in-confidence field and makes it clear that commercial-in-confidence information should not be entered in the QLR. It also provides new examples for additional clarity.

If you have any queries regarding the amendments, please email lobbyist@integrity.qld.gov.au or call the office on 07 3096 6406.

Last updated: 15 Sep 2026