The impacts of heavy drinking, gambling and unhealthy food are among the leading causes of preventable health harm in Australia. And for the most part, we know what to do to reduce them.

Most of us would hope the policies governments introduce are based on the best available evidence. However, our study published this week suggests that may not be the case.

We found former politicians, staffers and public servants who go on to work for the industries they once regulated have a major influence on the current policy environment. They’re paid to advocate what’s best for their client, not for the Australian public.

Of the 560 people on the Federal Government’s Register of Lobbyists in 2017, 197 stated they had previously been a government representative. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as most ‘lobbyists’ are directly employed by the companies they lobby for and are therefore not recorded on the register.