Deputy Mary Lou McDonald:

I have thrown my mobile telephone miles away.

My amendment relates to excepted communications. Subsection (3) includes: "communications by or on behalf of an individual relating to his or her private affairs about any matter other than the development or zoning", etc. On the face of it, one might accept this as making some sense in terms of people's privacy. When one delves into it, however, the relevant matters include changes in public policy, laws and regulation, awards of grants, loans, contracts and licences and other authorisations involving public funds, as defined under section 5(7).

I have tabled the amendment because I do not understand the rationale behind this exception.

I can understand the reason Government would not wish to regard lobbying by an individual for a medical card for an elderly parent, for example, as official lobbying. However, the relevant matters, including changes in public policy, laws and regulations, the award of grants, loans and contracts, are drilled down. I do not understand why one would exempt the individual's principal private residence. That is the immediate objective of amendment No. 23. Will the Minister explain the logic?