Vested Interests

Abstract

In 2010-11 three government policy initiatives aroused controversy and accusations of special treatment for "vested interests": a change in workplace relations law to meet the demand of a film company; special treatment for a company in the ultra-fast broadband roll-out; and a gambling-licences-for-convention-centre deal (details section 5b). Were the accusations justified? And what is a "vested interest" and where does it fit in a democracy? Everyone has interests and expresses and pursues those interests in various ways, individually and with others who are like-minded and directly or by seeking favourable rules or the backing of those in authority. In a sense all interests are "vested" since they are attached to and, in a sense, "clothe" the person or entity holding or pursuing them. And in an open, democratic society, their pursuit logically is an unexceptionable, natural, human interaction.