New polling has revealed that most Australians think politicians’ secret cash-for-access payments are corrupt.
Tue 4 Nov 2025 06.00
Photo: AAP Image
Three in five Australians consider cash-for-access payments as ‘corrupt conduct’, according to new research released today by the Australia Institute. Only 12% do not think of it as such.
That is regardless of voting intention.
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock said the findings confirm the major parties are out of touch with community expectations.
“Australians shouldn’t have to pay to get privileged access to the parliamentarians they’ve elected to represent them,” Senator Pocock said.
“This polling confirms the behaviour of major party politicians is wildly out of step with Australians’ expectations.
“Not only do a majority of Australians oppose cash-for-access arrangements and want to see them end, they also think such behaviour is corrupt.”
The research also found 82% of Australians agree that paying for exclusive access to politicians gives corporations and special interests unfair political influence.
The majority also agree that politicians should refuse to participate in events where participants with a vested interest in government policies have paid for exclusive access.
Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor at The Australia Institute, said “it is clear that cash-for-access payments completely fail the pub test.
“Politicians could improve public faith in democracy by ruling out taking money in a way that most Australians view as corrupt,” Mr Ogge said.
“It’s not surprising that trust in our political system is low when the major parties are selling access to corporations vying for special treatment at the expense of ordinary Australians.”
Popular political commentator Konrad Benjamin, known for his instagram account ‘Punter’s Politics’ is hosting a fundraising dinner to employ a “people’s lobbyist”.
Politicians such as Senators David Pocock, Tammy Tyrell, and Bridget McKenzie will be attending.
“If access to our democracy is for sale, then we’ll start putting in our own bids – not for influence, but to buy it back for the people,” Mr Benjamin said.
“Then maybe the laws that get passed might actually benefit we the punters – not just boost the profits of Australia’s largest foreign-owned mining cartels or corporate monopolies.”
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