The Standing Committee on Petitions has today launched an Inquiry into the standing orders relating to petitions.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025

The Standing Committee on Petitions has today launched an Inquiry into the standing orders relating to petitions. The Committee will inquire into and report on the work of the Standing Committee on Petitions in the 48th Parliament, including the suitability of the current provisions of the standing orders governing the form, submission, and consideration of petitions and e-petitions; the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automated systems, on the integrity and authenticity of the petitions process; and potential amendments to the standing orders or administrative practices to ensure the petitions process remains accessible, credible, and sustainable. The Chair of the Committee Ms Jodie Belyea MP, commented “petitions enjoy a long history in the Western parliamentary tradition, dating back to the 12th century. Today, petitions remain one of the few ways for Australians to raise their concerns directly with parliament, and their popularity has only continued to grow.” “The e-petitions system was introduced in 2016 at the start of the 45th Parliament. There has been a remarkable growth in e-petitioning from the days of paper petitions, when fewer than 300 petitions were typically presented over the course of a parliament. In the 47th Parliament the number of petitions presented to the parliament was 1,706, with the vast majority of these being e-petitions. Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the e-petitions system, and this inquiry is timely”. Submissions from interested individuals and organisations are invited by Friday 6 February 2026. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account. Further information about the Committee’s inquiry is available on the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Office of Ms Jodie Belyea MP (Member for Dunkley) Ph: (02) 6277 4370; Email: Jodie.Belyea.MP@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2152 petitions.committee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.