Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I present the 19th report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament together with 97 petitions and 20 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented. This report is the largest petitions report for this parliament, indicating what a busy time it's been for the committee over the last few months and, indeed, over the past year. Our records show that, over the last 10 years, an average of 137 petitions have been presented each year. In contrast, last year the committee received around 550 petitions. Approximately half of these were paper petitions, many of which were part of two large-scale campaigns that spanned communities all around the country, communities that care deeply about the issues the petitions raised. The remaining petitions were lodged by the House's e-petitioning system, making requests to the House that covered myriad different community and individual concerns.

It's great to see petitioning serving its purpose as a conduit between the parliament and the people, and, with the introduction of e-petitioning at the start of this parliament, people are finding it easier than ever. Now people can choose the petitioning process that best suits their petitioning goals, be they to launch a nationwide campaign or to attract a special interest group to lend support to their concerns. I encourage all members to continue championing the petitions process by engaging with, or presenting petitions on behalf of, their constituents. I also thank those ministers who have facilitated responses to petitions referred. In this way, we can continue to assist Australians to have their voices heard in this parliament. I will continue to provide updates to the House on the work of the Petitions Committee.