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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.

February 2017

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

Senate
House of Representatives
Both
Public Holiday
Other

24 Feb 17: Senate Committee Hearing
24 Feb 17: Senate Committee Hearing
24 Feb 17: House Committee Public Hearing

Date	Title
20/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
20/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
20/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
20/02/17	Joint Committee Public Hearing
20/02/17	Joint Committee Public Hearing
21/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
21/02/17	Joint Committee Public Hearing
21/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
22/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
22/02/17	Joint Committee Public Hearing
22/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
23/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
23/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
23/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
23/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
23/02/17	Joint Committee Public Hearing
24/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
24/02/17	Senate Committee Hearing
24/02/17	House Committee Public Hearing

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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

Petitions may be received by the House on public or individual grievances provided that they relate to matters on which the House has the power to act. Hundreds of petitions are received by the House every year on a variety of matters.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions receives and processes petitions on behalf of the House. It is able to inquire into and report on matters relating to petitions following their tabling in the House, and the petitioning system in general.

What is a Petition?

Parliament House Calendar

February 2017

19/02/17 - 25/02/17

Petitions

Senate Petitions

House of Representatives Petitions

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