Public hires its own lobbyist to take on gas giants

MEDIA RELEASE
2026.03.30

Public hires its own lobbyist to take on gas giants.

Rachel Smith appointed in first-of-its-kind campaign backed by everyday Australians.

A new kind of lobbyist has arrived in Canberra and she’s not working for big business.

Rachel Smith has been appointed as Australia’s first crowd-funded lobbyist, backed by grassroots advocacy platform Punters Politics.

Her first mission is simple, make gas companies pay their fair share of tax.

“This is what happens when people decide to take on the system directly,” Smith said.
“Lobbying shouldn’t just be for corporations. Australians deserve someone in the room fighting for them.”

A system under fire

Australia exports more gas than Qatar, yet earns a fraction of the revenue. While Qatar generates around $76 billion from gas, Australia collects just $2 billion. At the same time, one in three Australian corporations pays zero tax, fueling growing public frustration about who the system is really working for.

Punters Politics says the answer is simple: build a lobbying force backed by the public, not corporate money.

The campaign that wouldn’t go away

The appointment of Smith follows a two-year campaign led by Konrad Benjamin to expose the influence of corporate lobbying and force the issue into public view.

• May 2024: Attempted to attend a $3,000 lobbying dinner — refused entry despite buying a ticket 
• October 2024: Secured a Parliamentary lobbying pass — then removed from Parliament 
• 2024–2025: Raised $90,000 from everyday Australians to fund 15 billboards across Australia and Japan calling out the gas industry 
• April 2025: Drove a mobile billboard to Canberra ahead of the federal election and held a press conference with David Pocock — with no mainstream media coverage 
• November 2025: Hosted a fundraising dinner with punters and politicians, raising a further $80,000 to fund Australia’s first citizens’ lobbyist 

Now, in March 2026, that campaign has delivered its next move.  They’ve hired one.

Taking the fight to Canberra

Smith, founder of Pocket Advisory, brings deep experience in government relations, policy and advocacy. She will now take a publicly funded mandate directly into federal policy debates, targeting gas taxation and broader corporate accountability.

“This is not a one-off campaign,” Smith said.
“It’s a test of whether public-backed advocacy can shift outcomes — not just narratives.”

Punters Politics says the model is designed to permanently disrupt how influence works in Australia.

“For too long, lobbying has been dominated by those who can afford it,” a Konrad Benjamin said.
“This is about levelling the playing field, and making sure politicians hear from the people who actually vote.”

A new kind of pressure

With cost-of-living pressures rising and energy prices under scrutiny, the campaign is expected to intensify pressure on government to revisit gas taxation settings and ensure Australians receive a fair return on their natural resources.

And unlike traditional lobbying efforts, this one won’t be happening behind closed doors.

“This is public, it’s funded by Australians, and it’s not going away,” Smith said.

Media enquiries:
Punters Politics - oipunter@punterspolitics.com