Do sole traders need to register on the Federal Lobbyists Register?

No. Across every industry and every size band, the engine's answer for a sole trader is: no.

Do businesses with 1–5 employees need to register on the Federal Lobbyists Register?

No (1–5 employees, turnover $100K–$1M).

When is "Register on the Federal Lobbyists Register" due?

Registration of the organisation, each lobbyist and each client must be published on the Register before first contact (applications generally take 5 working days); changes such as a new or ceased client updated within 10 business days; details reviewed twice a year, on 1 February and 1 July, with 10 business days to update.

Who must register on the Federal Lobbyists Register?

The applicability test for Register on the Federal Lobbyists Register (AGD), computed across 35 industries, 9 business structures and 6 size bands.

Short answer: Specialised

Applies to third-party lobbyists only. The Rules Mate questionnaire does not treat this as an obligation for an ordinary business.

What the obligation is

Third-party lobbyists contacting Commonwealth officials must register + observe the Lobbying Code.

The Lobbying Code of Conduct, overseen by the Attorney-General's Department, requires third-party lobbyists to register themselves and each client on the public Australian Government Register of Lobbyists before contacting Australian Government representatives (ministers and ministerial staff, agency heads, APS employees, agency contractors and ADF members) to influence federal decision-making. Representatives must not engage with unregistered lobbyists and must report suspected breaches. Each lobbyist must make a statutory declaration about eligibility (no prison sentence of 30 months or more, no dishonesty conviction in the last 10 years, no political party executive role). At first contact the lobbyist must disclose who it represents, and must follow five principles of engagement, including keeping lobbying separate from party-political activity. Former ministers and assistant ministers (18 months) and former ministerial advisers, agency heads, SES officers and ADF officers of colonel rank or above (12 months) face bans on lobbying on matters they dealt with. The Code applies to lobbyists and clients based overseas, alongside any Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme duty.

The applicability test

Applies to third-party lobbyists only. The Rules Mate questionnaire does not treat this as an obligation for an ordinary business.

How the regulator frames it: Third-party lobbyists (individuals and organisations, in Australia or overseas, including contractors) who lobby Australian Government representatives on behalf of clients. Not covered: in-house lobbyists, non-profits and member-based associations such as peak bodies, professionals already registered under a Commonwealth scheme (such as tax agents and customs brokers), and lawyers, doctors or accountants making occasional representations incidental to their services.

What triggers it: Intending to communicate with an Australian Government representative, on behalf of a third-party client, to influence federal government decision-making.

Jurisdiction: Commonwealth law, so the test is the same in every state and territory.

Which industries are in or out

Outcome across the 35 industries Rules Mate maps (35 of 35: no).

The answer is the same in every industry: no. Industry does not change who must comply.

Business structure and size

Structure does not change the answer across all industries: for every structure the answer is "no".

Size does not change the answer across all industries: at every size band the answer is "no".

Worked examples

Each line is one run of the Rules Mate applicability engine for a single business profile, with the reason the engine gives:

Pty Ltd company in real estate agents with 6–19 employees, turnover $1M–$3M: does not apply. Applies to third-party lobbyists only.

What you must do, and when

When due: Registration of the organisation, each lobbyist and each client must be published on the Register before first contact (applications generally take 5 working days); changes such as a new or ceased client updated within 10 business days; details reviewed twice a year, on 1 February and 1 July, with 10 business days to update.
Frequency: Ongoing
Evidence to keep: Published Register entry for the organisation, lobbyists and clients; witnessed statutory declaration for each lobbyist; records of first-contact disclosures (client, registration, any prohibition-period status); change log showing 10-business-day updates and the 1 February and 1 July reviews; Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme registration where lobbying for a foreign principal.
Status: Current
Priority: Medium

Penalty for not complying

Maximum penalty: The Code is administrative: a lobbyist who breaches it may be removed from the Register, and a serious breach can bar registration or re-registration for up to 3 months; the Attorney-General can direct that a lobbyist be refused registration or removed on integrity grounds (Code ss 13(4), 14(3)). Separately, failing to register under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 when required may attract criminal penalties.

Audit or assurance level

Rules Mate has not yet classified the audit or assurance level for this obligation. Any audit, review or certification requirement is set by the regulator source listed below.

Where it sits in the corpus

Rules Mate tracks 2 published obligations tagged "lobbying", 0 of them rated critical. For a professional services Pty Ltd company with 6–19 employees operating in every state, 0 of those apply outright. This obligation is rated medium priority, and is an ongoing duty.

Regulator, legislation and tools

Regulated by Attorney-General's Department.

AGD: Federal legal policy + administration of justice + national security law + privacy + FOI.

Attorney-General's Department

Free tools that help with this obligation:

Compliance calendar builder

Run the compliance journeyAnswer a short questionnaire about your business and get the obligations that apply to you, with the reason each one applies.

Questions

Who must register on the Federal Lobbyists Register?: Applies to third-party lobbyists only. The Rules Mate questionnaire does not treat this as an obligation for an ordinary business.
Do sole traders need to register on the Federal Lobbyists Register?: No. Across every industry and every size band, the engine's answer for a sole trader is: no.
Do businesses with 1–5 employees need to register on the Federal Lobbyists Register?: No (1–5 employees, turnover $100K–$1M).
When is "Register on the Federal Lobbyists Register" due?: Registration of the organisation, each lobbyist and each client must be published on the Register before first contact (applications generally take 5 working days); changes such as a new or ceased client updated within 10 business days; details reviewed twice a year, on 1 February and 1 July, with 10 business days to update.

Sources

AGD: official source

Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine from the published obligation corpus; facts last checked 3 October 2026. Rules Mate is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with the regulator source or a qualified adviser before acting.