Moves to ban powerbrokers from lobbying

NSW has quickly acted on Prime Minister Tony Abbott's warning to the major parties' numbers men that political officials have no place lobbying MPs.

"You can either be a powerbroker or a lobbyist, but you can't be both," he announced on Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell announced a ban on Liberal party officials and managers in the state also acting as lobbyists.

"From the 31st of October, people who occupy or act in an office or position concerned with the management of a registered political party will not be eligible to engage in lobbying activities in NSW or to be registered as a lobbyist in this state," he told parliament.

Mr Abbott said he would move to ban party officials from the official lobbyist register but did not give further details.

The policy would ensure public confidence in his government, he said.

"I know that all coalition governments right around Australia are determined to try to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest, real or apparent," Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney.

"I'm determined to ensure that as far as the new coalition government in Canberra is concerned, not only is it clean and fair but it's seen to be clean and fair."

The premier said there may be further changes in future.

Controversial powerbrokers and lobbyists Michael Photios and Joe Tannous have reportedly both announced they would be resigning from the Liberal Party State Executive.

Mr Photios is the chairman of lobbying firm PremierState, while Mr Tannous is the chairman of 1st state.

Their reported resignations come more than a month after Mr O'Farrell was grilled about Mr Tannous during budget estimates.

Labor MP Luke Foley drew the premier's attention to Mr Tannous' LinkedIn profile, which said he "enjoys constant contact with elected representatives from across the political divide enabling him to attain the desired results for his clients".

The Labor MP pointed out that Mr Tannous lobbied for Thiess, which in July won a $1.15 million northwest rail tunnelling contract, and Dell Australia, which was awarded a $455,000 government deal.

Meanwhile, Mr Photios came under the microscope over his contact with the former NSW finance minister Greg Pearce, who was sacked last month for failing to disclose a conflict of interest over an appointment to the board of Sydney Water.

Mr Foley suggested in August that there were seven people on the Liberal state executive who could be termed lobbyists, while the premier claims there are only three.

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