One of the ACT's top bureaucrats will headline a lunch billed as giving consultants the ear of influential government decision-makers.
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However organisers have been forced to clarify guests should not expect any favourable treatment, despite the $160 ticket price.
Under Treasurer David Nicol will be the star attraction at a "boardroom lunch" hosted by Consult Australia on Friday.
Held in an "intimate setting to enable open discussion", the lunch was advertised as providing members of the consulting peak body with "exclusive access to key decision-makers in both the public and private sectors".
Protected under the Chatham House Rule - which allows attendees to reveal the discussion so long as they don't identify who said what - the lunch was also labelled as a "discussion to better understand the government's plans and policies".
"This conversation will also provide opportunity for the leadership of our industry to engage with the Under Treasurer as we continue to play a crucial role in the development and delivery of major projects across the Australian Capital Territory," Consult Australia's website says.
Tickets are limited to two representatives per firm and the Canberra CBD location will only be revealed to confirmed attendees.
The Under Treasurer advises ACT Treasurer Andrew Barr on the management of the territory's budget, helping to determine tax and economic policy.
Mr Nicol is also responsible for the compulsory third party insurance scheme, which is currently undergoing major changes, as well as workers compensation and shared services.
Consult Australia ACT manager Caitlin Buttress said the organisation was a not-for-profit industry association whose job was to engage with a wide range of stakeholders including parliamentarians and government representatives.
"The role of an industry association is to participate in government consultations and events - such as the one you refer to below - gives our members the opportunity to hear first-hand about government policy as it relates to our industry. We do not pay for their participation," Ms Buttress said.
However ACT Opposition leader Alistair Coe expressed concerns about the arrangement.
"Whilst I am pleased that senior public servants are open to feedback and engagement, their comments should be on the record and attributable - not according to Chatham House Rule. At the very least, I hope that any new information or interpretations given at the lunch will be published on Treasury’s website," Mr Coe said.
“Given the political nature of many issues before the public service and Assembly at the moment, it might be more appropriate if Mr Barr attends the event, rather than a public servant.”
An ACT government spokeswoman said Mr Nicol would still attend the event, but Consult Australia would tell its members the event would not provide them with exclusive or preferred access to the Under Treasurer.
"At the time of invitation, Mr Nicol was not made aware of how the Consult Australia Boardroom Lunch Series event was marketed to participants, including the claim that the event will provide 'exclusive access to key decision-makers in both the public and private sectors'," the spokeswoman said.
"Mr Nicol’s contribution to this event is consistent with the government’s approach to other industry events. Mr Nicol and other ACT Public Service senior executives are often invited to attend and speak at various industry events including for Consult Australia, the Conservation Council, the Institute of Public Administration Australia, Master Builders Association, the Property Council of Australia, the Canberra Business Chamber and the Housing Industry Association."
The event comes as the ACT government prepares to issue a tender this month for a whole of government professional and consulting services panel.
The panel was foreshadowed in the Chief Minister's directorate's latest annual report, which said it would reduce the cost of obtaining and using professional and consulting services, and improve the consistency and transparency of procurement and contracting across government.
