Petitions

A petition is basically a request for action. The right to petition Federal Parliament has been one of the rights of citizens since federation, and it is the only way an individual can directly place grievances before the Parliament.

Senate Petitions

The presentation of a petition to the Senate is a proceeding in Parliament and is protected by parliamentary privilege. The publication of a petition before presentation is not similarly protected. (See Chapter 2, Australian Senate Practice, Parliamentary Privilege, Circulation of petitions.)

House of Representatives petitions

A petition to the House of Representatives (the House) is a request for action on something that the House is responsible for.

The House Standing Committee on Petitions receives and processes petitions on behalf of the House.

Petitions to the House must follow the rules and can be presented by a Member of Parliament or the Committee Chair.

Learn more about petitioning the House

Related Resources and Links

Senate

House of Representatives

What is a Petition?

Individuals and organisations may seek to have petitions presented to the Parliament. A petition expresses a point of view, usually on matters of public policy, and contains a request for action, or in some cases, not to take action. The right to petition Parliament has been one of the rights of citizens since Federation.

Each house of the Parliament has its own rules that documents must follow in order to be accepted as petitions.

December 2013

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1 Both	2 Both	3 Both	4 Both	5 Other	6 Other	7
8 Both	9 Both	10 Both	11 Both	12	13	14
15 Other	16 Other	17 Other	18	19	20	21
22	23	24 Public holiday	25 Public holiday	26	27	28
29	30	31 Public holiday	1	2	3	4

Senate
House of Representatives
Both
Public Holiday
Other

Date	Title
24/12/13	Christmas Day (Public Holiday)
25/12/13	Boxing Day (Public Holiday)

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