Chapter 10 - Petitions

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 standing orders.
At the time provided the Clerk shall make an announcement that petitions have been lodged. At the commencement of the sitting a list shall be circulated indicating in respect of each petition the senator who presents it, the number of signatures, and the subject matter of the petition.
Every petition presented shall be deemed to have been received by the Senate unless a motion, moved at the time provided, that a petition be not received, is agreed to.
The texts of the petitions received shall be printed in Hansard.
A petition shall not be presented after notices of motion have been given, but when the 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.
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.
Petitions may be presented to the Senate only by a senator, and a senator may not present a petition from that senator.
A petition not certified under paragraph (1) may be presented in accordance with this standing order with the approval of the President if the President is satisfied that exceptional circumstances warrant its presentation.

(amended 6 March 1997)

A petition shall be fairly written, typed, or printed without interlineation or erasure.
A petition shall contain a request for action by the Senate or the Parliament.
A petition shall be in the English language, or be accompanied by a translation, certified by the senator who presents it to be correct.
Every signature shall be written on a page bearing the petition, and shall not be pasted upon or otherwise transferred to it.
A petition shall be signed by the petitioners with their names, but may be signed by a person for another in case 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.
Petitions of corporations may be made under their common seal.
No letters, affidavits, or other documents shall be attached to a petition.

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.
A petition shall be respectful, decorous, and temperate in its language, and shall not contain language disrespectful to any legislature or irrelevant statements.
A senator presenting a petition shall be acquainted with the contents of it, and shall take care that it is in conformity with the rules and orders of the Senate.