Ferguson vows to obey rules in new lobby job Former resources minister, and head of Seven Group's resources division, Martin Ferguson, addresses APPEA yesterday. Picture: Kelly Barnes Source: TheAustralian FORMER resources minister Martin Ferguson says he will engage with governments as the head of Seven Group's resources division and on behalf of the gas and oil lobby. But the respected Labor figure said he was conscious of the ministerial code of conduct's lobbying ban. Mr Ferguson also backed the ongoing rank-and-file ballot to elect a new Labor leader, saying it should be used to determine Senate candidates, while admitting the current process had extended Tony Abbott's "honeymoon" period. Such a move would prevent further "captain's picks," used by Julia Gillard to replace sitting Northern Territory senator Trish Crossin with Olympian Nova Peris. It was announced yesterday that Mr Ferguson, who retired from politics at last month's election after quitting cabinet in March, will be chairman of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association's advisory board. On Monday he was appointed Seven's group executive for natural resources, with a particular focus on its mining machinery business. Mr Ferguson said he would be required to talk to state and federal governments as part of his duties at the two organisations. "I'll be carrying out duties as requested -- engaging with the community (and) with government as required, but in a proper and constructive way," he said after speaking at an energy forum in Adelaide yesterday. I'm very conscious of the ministerial code of conduct. I discussed it with my two employers. I cannot lobby, for a period of 12 months, on any things I directly handled. I resigned in March, so I'm well into the 12 months. He said projects in which he was closely involved, such as Woodside's development of Browse Basin gas fields off the Western Australia's northern coast, would be off-limits during talks with new Resources Minister Ian MacFarlane. Mr Ferguson said he had backed Bill Shorten for the Labor leadership, and indicated that Tanya Plibersek should be his deputy. "I think he, potentially with Tanya, represents our best chance of rebuilding a modern Labor Party," he said. I think (the ballot has) extended the Prime Minister's honeymoon . . . but it's enabled us to engage with our membership and I think it's a learning experience for the party.