Chapter 1 Introduction
Petitions to the House of Representatives: a fundamental right[1]
1.1
In 2007 the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure presented
a report, Making a difference, on petitioning the House of Representatives.
The Procedure Committee referred to the long history of petitioning the
Parliament and noted that the present form of petitioning under the Westminster
system dates from the 17th century. This historic means of direct
representations to the Parliament from people seeking action on grievances was
part of the Australian Parliament’s inheritance in 1901.[2]
1.2
However, the Procedure Committee considered that the status of petitions
within the House of Representatives had declined. It noted that the House—at
that time—had no way of responding to petitions or of encouraging Ministers to
respond to them. In the Procedure Committee’s view, the House has a role to
play in petitioning: even though the issues raised in petitions are within the
constitutional remit of the Commonwealth Government, the petitions themselves
are directed to the House and its Members.
1.3
The Procedure Committee considered that the future of petitions should
be based on principles that: petitions belong to the public; petitions sent to
the House should be addressed by the House; governments should respond;
Members’ involvement should be enhanced and streamlined; rules should be
relevant and fair; and that information technologies should be used more
effectively.[3]
1.4
Another threshold issue addressed by the Procedure Committee was
acknowledgment that petitions generally serve to air and strengthen community
views on an issue.[4] It is rare for the
actions sought in petitions to be achieved. By far the more common outcome of
petitions is for the issues of concern to become more public.
1.5
The Procedure Committee made recommendations intended to reform and
strengthen the petitions process in the House. Its first recommendation was for
the House to establish a petitions committee, with the purpose of receiving and
processing petitions, and inquiring into and reporting on any possible action
to be taken.
1.6
Other recommendations included that:
n a limit of 250 words
be imposed for the terms (reasons for the petition plus the request for action
by the House) of the petition
n Ministers be expected
to respond to petitions referred to them by the Petitions Committee within 90
days of presentation of the petition
n certain additional
times be available for Members to present petitions
n the prohibition on
petitions indicating sponsorship or distribution by Members be removed
n the Department of the
House of Representatives create a webpage that is visible from the Parliament’s
home page, and provides access to guidance on preparing a petition
n a ‘principal
petitioner’ (only) be required to provide full contact details and
n an electronic
petitioning system be introduced in the House of Representatives.[5]
1.7
In January 2008, the new government announced that it would establish a
petitions committee, which it regarded as ‘an important reform which
strengthens the democratic rights of citizens and ensures that parliament is
listening and responding appropriately’. [6] At the beginning of the
42nd Parliament, the government introduced a number of revised Standing
Orders to provide for the establishment of the new petitions committee and to
update the way in which petitions were handled.[7]
1.8
In summary, these changes included:
n establishment of the first
House of Representatives Petitions Committee
n the Petitions
Committee be required to check that each petition lodged for presentation
(whether directly from a petitioner or via a Member), complies with the Standing
Orders. If a petition complies, it is to be approved for presentation to the
House. The Committee would also decide on action to be taken on a petition,
including its referral to the relevant Minister
n a limit of 250 words
for the terms (that is, the reason for the petition to the House and the
request, or action requested of the House) of the petition
n a requirement for a
principal petitioner to be identified for each petition (and for that person’s
full contact details and signature to be on the first page of the petition)
n petitions were to be
presented to the House either by the Speaker (with the Clerk announcing
details)[8] or by an individual Member.
Opportunities for Members to present petitions were increased (Members could
now present petitions during Members’ 90 second and 3 minute statements in the
Main Committee, the adjournment debate in the House and Main Committee, and
during grievance debate) and
n Ministers were
expected to respond to petitions referred by the Committee within 90 days of
presentation, by lodging a written response with the Committee. Those responses
were also to be presented in the House, printed in Hansard and published on the
House’s internet website.
The inquiry
1.9
The Standing Committee on Petitions was created with the change of
Standing Orders on 12 February 2008, and the original members were appointed to
the Committee on 19 February and 11 March 2008.[9] The Committee held its
first meeting on 12 March 2008. (By the time of this report the Committee had
held more than 50 such meetings.)
1.10
On 25 November 2009 the Petitions Committee resolved to conduct an
inquiry into its work, with the aim of completing a report by the end of the 42nd
Parliament. The report would outline the work of the first Committee and the
need—if any—for changes to its framework and operations.
1.11
Terms of Reference for the inquiry were intentionally broad: to inquire
into and report on the work of the Standing Committee on Petitions, with
particular reference to:
a) the
role and operations of the Standing Committee on Petitions; and
b) the
effectiveness of the Standing Orders as they relate to petitions.
1.12
The inquiry was advertised in The Australian on 3 March 2010. The
Committee Chair wrote to all Members of the House of Representatives inviting a
submission, letters were also sent to academics and other persons who might
have had an interest in the inquiry, and the commencement of the inquiry was
notified on the Committee’s webpage. Reflecting the essentially technical
nature of this inquiry (and possibly general satisfaction with the new
arrangements), the Committee received only one submission. A public hearing was
held at Parliament House on 17 March 2010 (with the Committee receiving
evidence from the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Clerk
Assistant (Table));[10] and the Committee
invited Members to provide input at a private round table meeting on 26 May
2010.
1.13
In addition, in the course of its regular round table meetings into
selected petitions, the Committee during the time of this inquiry, took the
opportunity to ask witnesses/petitioners it spoke to for their views on the new
process for petitions.
The report
1.14
This report addresses each of the Terms of Reference in the following
two chapters. In chapter 2 it considers in more detail the role and operations
of the Petitions Committee to date. These operations currently include a
private meeting each sitting week to consider proposed petitions, as well as
Ministerial responses. Each sitting Monday evening the Chair presents to the
House, petitions and Ministerial responses, and outlines the current work of
the Committee. From time to time another Committee member makes a statement at
this time. In addition, the Committee has held round table meetings with petitioners
interstate and at Parliament House; and regularly invites Public Servants to
round table meetings at Parliament House to enable it to follow up issues raised
in petitions and Ministers’ responses. In November 2009, it presented to the
House the report of its inquiry into electronic petitioning.[11]
1.15
In the third chapter, the Committee considers the Standing Orders
(including Sessional Orders put in place in 2008) that relate to the work of
the Committee and sets out its conclusions and recommendations for the
Committee’s future role and operations.
1.16
Throughout the report the Committee has borne in mind the principles
outlined by the Procedure Committee, particularly those relating to the public
nature of petitions, the role of the House in responding to petitions that are
addressed to it, and obtaining a response from government.