Why do some lobby groups get the audiences they want while others go home empty-handed? Colin Jacobs, a former staffer to Senator Richard Di Natale, explains the tricks of the trade.Why do some lobby groups get the audiences they want while others go home empty-handed? Colin Jacobs, a former staffer to Senator Richard Di Natale, explains the tricks of the trade.
As the 12 new senators who took their seats last week are finding out, being a member of Parliament brings with it both perks and liabilities. Along with the comcar, a plush seat inside the chamber and the discreet lapel pin (red for senators, green for reps) that all 226 MPs receive comes another certainty: a steady stream of lobbyists through the door. I witnessed this during three years as a political staffer dealing with lobbyists of all stripes.
The return on your lobbying dollar starts with getting in the MP’s door. The most reliable way to get a meeting is to know somebody within the MPs or minister’s office and call in a personal favour. This is a key reason why former staffers make such attractive recruits to government relations agencies, especially those with contacts inside the current government. (The door swings both ways, by the way — lobbyists also show up on ministerial staffs.) Other tactics employed by the pros include holding morning teas, meals or cocktail events in Parliament House.
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