Lobbying is when a person or organization communicates with a public office holder, either directly or by means of grass-roots communication, for the purpose of attempting to influence the outcome of a government decision.

Communication methods include, but are not limited to: 

• emails;
• letters;
• telephone;
• fax;
• in-person meetings;
• formal or informal encounters; and 
• grass-roots communication, which refers to initiating petitions or using social media to encourage the general public to contact a public office holder to support or oppose a policy, law, program, funding or provision of government services.

An attempt to influence a government decision is the key difference between routine communications which are not lobbying, and attempts to persuade a public office holder. For example, if you provide feedback to the government on a public engagement, that is not lobbying. An example of lobbying would be requesting a meeting with a Minister to propose changes to how the government delivers services or programs to the public.