Ex-politicians may be a health hazard when they turn lobbyist and use their insider knowledge to promote the interests of the food, alcohol and gambling industries, researchers say. 

This “revolving door” between politics and business undermines the creation of evidence-based health policy, unfairly favouring the interests of industry over the public’s needs, according to a study in Public Health Research and Practice.

Deakin University researchers analysed the employment history of 122 lobbyists who had been government representatives, including former MPs, senators, chiefs of staff, advisers, and media/communications advisers.

The study found almost half had held government roles for more than 10 years, 18% had been former politicians and 47% had held senior advisory roles.