system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Explain to an Australian: What is lobbying? Is it true that it's similar to bribery, and if so, how is it legal?
gpt
Basically, lobbying is benign in its first instance: it's when a group hires someone to try to persuade politicians on their behalf. So, you're a businessman, maybe you hire a guy to go to city hall to sit in on meetings and ensure your viewpoint is heard and your interests protected. It starts to get sketchy about when he figures out he can get more influence on the council by donating to campaigns and the like.

Lobbying is not bribery, because bribery in the US requires an explicit exchange, called "quid pro quo." That is, "I will give you X if you give me Y." Lobbying is more "I threw that great fundraiser for you last month that got you $X. Now, I'd really like to talk to you about Issue Y..." They're technically unrelated, but there is the understanding and assumption of future potential contributions.