PETITIONS
It is the right of any individual or body of individuals in the community to petitions the Parliament or a House of Parliament to obtain redress of grievances, or to ask it to do or not to do something within its power.
How to lodge a petition
In order that a petition can be presented, Senators should ensure that:
(a) the petition is in conformity with the standing orders, in particular, that it contains a request for action by the Senate or the Parliament (standing orders relating to petitions are reprinted on the next page);
(b) the first page of the petition should show the total number of signatures and be signed by the Senator. (Note: Senators need sign only the first page of identical petitions);
(c) the text of the petition must be shown on each page on which there are signatures;
(d) all signatures must be original signatures, not photo copies or faxed copies;
(e) the petition should be forwarded to the Petitions Officer, Department of the Senate, at least three hours prior to the sitting of the Senate on the day it is proposed to be presented. This is interpreted as meaning by 11.00 am on a day on which the Senate sits at 2.00 pm or by 5.00 pm on the day prior to the Senate sitting at 9.30 am.
Sample Format of a Petition
To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled:
The Petition of the undersigned shows:
(State grievance or subject of complaint)Your Petitioners ask/request that the Senate should:
(State the redress of action desired)(signatures)
For any further information, contact the Petitions Officer, Senate Table Office, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600. Telephone: (06) 277 3021.
PETITIONS
Presentation of petitions
69. (1) A petition shall be lodged with the Clerk, at least 3 hours before the meeting of the Senate at which it is proposed to have it presented, and in order to be presented must bear the Clerk's certificate that it is in conformity with the understanding orders.
(2) The Clerk shall make an announcement of petitions lodged, indicating in respect of each petition the Senator who presents it, the number of signatures, and the subject matter of the petition.
(3) Every petition presented shall be deemed to have been received by the Senate unless a motion, moved forthwith, that a petition be not received, is agreed to.
(4) The texts of petitions received shall be printed in Hansard.
(5) A petition shall not be presented after after notices of motion have been given, but when mover of a motion is called or when an order of the day is read for the first time, a petition referring to it may be presented.
(6) A Senator presenting a petition shall place the Senator's name at the beginning of it, together with a statement of the number of signatures.
(7) Petitions may be presented to the Senate only by a Senator, and a Senator may not present a petition from that Senator.
FORM OF PETITION
70. (1) A petition shall be fairly written, typed, or printed without interlineation or erasure.
(2) A petition shall contain a request for action by the Senate or the Parliament.
(3) A petition shall be in the English language, or be accompanied by a translation, certified by the Senator who presents it to be correct.
(4) Every signature shall be written on a page bearing the petition, and shall not be pasted upon or otherwise transferred to it.
(5) A petition shall be signed by petitioners with their names, but may be signed by a person for another person incase of incapacity by sickness. A person not able to write may make a mark in the presence of a witness, who shall sign as such.
(6) Petitions of corporations may be made under their common seal.
(7) No letters, affidavits, or other documents shall be attached to a petition.
CONTENTS OF PETITIONS
71. (1) No reference shall be made in a petition to any debate in Parliament of the same session, unless it is strictly relevant to the petition.
(2) A petition shall be respectful, decorous, and temperate in its language, and shall not contain language disrespectful to any legislature or irrelevant statements.
(3) A Senator presenting a petition shall be acquaint with the contents of it, and shall take care that it is in conformity with the rules and orders of the Senate.
Don't forget to read Creative Petitioning
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