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Petitions

It is the right of any person or organisation to petition Parliament to obtain redress of grievances, or to ask it take some action or not to do something that is contemplated. The right to petition Parliament is of great antiquity.

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.)

It is interesting to note that the Internet is now being used to call for public support for petitions.

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