Richo: The lobbyist prohibited from lobbying

The Great Australian Dream of owning a home is all but dead for millions of young people, unless they have an account with the Bank of Mum and Dad. But not so for federal politicians, with many building huge property portfolios with help from tax concessions and public subsidies.

The gambling industry has provided nearly 300 tickets and gifts to MPs in the past five years.

While federal ministers are prevented from owning shares, it’s a free for all for people with connections and influence with ministers, raising questions about whether non-public information is being used in share trading.

Our new analysis, based on automatically updated data, shows which public companies and industries federal parliamentarians and their families have shares in, and identifies the big shareholders.

Federal MP Bob Katter's vague disclosures to parliament’s interests register read like the ramblings of a mad uncle after a night on the tiles. They also demonstrate his wilful disregard for the rules and the need for reform to compel MPs to declare their interests.