Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions, I present the 13th report of the Petitions Committee of the 46th Parliament.

The report read as follows—

Report relating to the consideration of petitions and matters relating to the petitions system

The committee met in private session on 13 May and 10 June 2020.

1. The committee resolved to present the following petitions in accordance with standing order 207:

Petitions certified on 13 May 2020

From 3 petitioners – requesting certain assistance measures during COVID-19 (EN1417)

From 1 petitioner – regarding Medicare discrimination against overseas trained doctors (EN1418)

From 1 petitioner – requesting certain assistance measures during COVID-19 (EN1419)

From 2 petitioners – requesting that permanent residency applications be expedited during COVID-19 (EN1420)

From 11 petitioners – requesting a suspension of foreign ownership (EN1421)

From 1 petitioner – requesting the closure of schools during COVID-19 (EN1422)

From 1 petitioner – requesting certain lockdown measures during COVID-19 (EN1423)

From 2 petitioners – regarding the treatment of law graduates (EN1425)

From 12 petitioners – regarding domestic violence offence accusations against men (EN1426)

From 2 petitioners – regarding female violence against children (EN1427)

From 1 petitioner – requesting certain lockdown measures during COVID-19 (EN1429)

From 2 petitioners – requesting the closure of schools during COVID-19 (EN1430)

From 1 petitioner – requesting assistance for hospitality workers during COVID-19 (EN1431)

From 1 petitioner – requesting that hair and beauty salons to be closed during COVID-19 (EN1433)

From 1 petitioner – regarding financial assistance for certain visa holders during COVID-19 (EN1434)

From 3 petitioners – regarding the repatriation of Australian citizens during COVID-19 (EN1435)

From 1 petitioner – requesting a fee waiver for international students during COVID-19 (EN1437)

From 1,592 petitioners – requesting Australian citizenship for certain visa holders from New Zealand (EN1438)

From 13 petitioners – regarding financial support for temporary visa holders during COVID-19 (EN1439)

From 1 petitioner – requesting wage subsidies (EN1440)

From 16 petitioners – requesting assistance for those receiving certain benefits during COVID-19 (EN1442)

From 55 petitioners – regarding the ability for international medical graduates to assist during COVID-19 (EN1443)

From 1 petitioner – regarding certain measures during COVID-19 (EN1444)

From 1 petitioner – requesting that day-care operators freeze charges for non-attendance during COVID-19 (EN1445)

From 5 petitioners – requesting a Royal Commission into the Port Arthur massacre (EN1446)

From 2 petitioners – requesting for Medicare rebates to include all GP tele- health consultations (EN1447)

From 1 petitioner – regarding the processing time for 887 visas (EN1448)

From 2 petitioners – regarding visa extensions during COVID-19 (EN1450)

From 2 petitioners – requesting that car washes be banned from operating during COVID-19 (EN1451)

From 1 petitioner – regarding a ban on video game loot boxes (EN1452)

From 2 petitioners – requesting a reduction of credit card interest rates during COVID-19 (EN1453)

From 319 petitioners – regarding discrimination against New Zealand citizens (EN1454)

From 7 petitioners – regarding restrictions on exports to China (EN1455)

From 1 petitioner – regarding anti-crisis measures during COVID-19 (EN1457)

From 1 petitioner – regarding assistance for landlords and businesses during COVID-19 (EN1458)

From 1 petitioner – regarding employment for temporary visa holders during COVID-19 (EN1460)

From 2 petitioners – requesting assistance for landlords during COVID-19 (EN1464)

From 22 petitioners – regarding foreign ownership of Australian assets (EN1466)

From 5 petitioners – regarding imported foods (EN1467)

From 1 petitioner – requesting section 115a of the Copyright Act 1968 be repealed (EN1468)

From 1 petitioner – regarding certain social distancing measures during COVID-19 (EN1469)

From 26 petitioners – regarding vaccinations (EN1470)

From 4 petitioners – regarding tax deductions on food and beverage items (EN1471)

From 1 petitioner – requesting changes to certain visas during COVID-19 (EN1472)

From 222 petitioners – regarding Australia's relationship with China (EN1473)

From 3 petitioners – regarding nursing registrations for graduates (EN1474)

From 8 petitioners – regarding charity donations (EN1475)

From 7 petitioners – regarding rights for stay at home parents (EN1476)

From 8 petitioners – requesting proof of sunset clauses on executive emergency powers (EN1477)

From 1 petitioner – requesting certain actions by universities during COVID-19 (EN1478)

From 11 petitioners – requesting an exemption to HELP debts for health care workers (EN1479)

From 2 petitioners – regarding lockdown measures during COVID-19 (EN1481)

From 15 petitioners – requesting the resumption of parliamentary sittings (EN1482)

From 9 petitioners – regarding the purchase of baby formula (EN1483)

From 14 petitioners – requesting changes to taxation for certified organic food growers (EN1485)

From 2 petitioners – requesting the extension of entry dates for existing working holiday visas during COVID-19 (EN1486)

From 45 petitioners – requesting a moratorium on the 5G network (EN1487)

From 2 petitioners – requesting a moratorium on space travel (EN1489)

From 11,419 petitioners – regarding implementation of the 5G network (EN1490)

From 40 petitioners – regarding implementation of the 5G network (EN1492)

From 56 petitioners – regarding implementation of the 5G network (EN1493)

From 5 petitioners – regarding quarantine and isolation rules for regional areas during COVID-19 (EN1494)

From 2 petitioners – requesting an extension of working holiday visas during COVID-19 (EN1495)

From 22 petitioners – regarding food and water security and societal changes (EN1498)

From 1,052 petitioners – requesting a freeze to World Health Organisation funding (EN1500)

From 2 petitioners – regarding education (EN1501)

From 514 petitioners – regarding the integration of Chinese medicine into treatments for COVID-19(EN1502)

From 301 petitioners – requesting a withdrawal of World Health Organisation funding (EN1503)

From 47 petitioners – regarding implementation of the 5G network (EN1504)

From 418 petitioners – requesting a reversal of mandatory vaccinations for visitors to nursing homes (EN1505)

From 2 petitioners – requesting a repeal of the mandatory requirement for crush protection devices on all-terrain vehicles (EN1506)

From 12 petitioners – requesting a ban on the use of credit cards for online gambling websites (EN1507)

From 44 petitioners – regarding Chinese owned assets (EN1508)

From 861 petitioners – requesting hazard allowance and a tax holiday for essential healthcare workers (EN1509)

From 7 petitioners – requesting financial support for self-funded retirees during COVID-19 (EN1510)

From 3,434 petitioners – requesting an extension to certain visas during COVID-19 (EN1513)

From 328 petitioners – requesting that COVID-19 emergency measures be revoked (EN1514)

From 82 petitioners – regarding the World Health Organisation and COVID-19 lockdown measures (EN1515)

From 2 petitioners – requesting that a COVID-19 service medal be awarded for certain public sector workers (EN1516)

From 149 petitioners – requesting changes to property settlement laws (EN1518)

From 40 petitioners – regarding Chinese owned assets (EN1520)

From 32 petitioners – requesting public acknowledgement of the Constitution (EN1521)

From 277 petitioners – requesting an increase to the carers pensions during COVID-19 (EN1522)

From 420 petitioners – regarding trade with China (EN1523)

From 214 petitioners – requesting a Royal Commission into political corruption and conflicts of interest (EN1524)

From 57 petitioners – requesting a public inquiry into the origin of COVID-19 (EN1525)

From 2,955 petitioners – requesting that advice be sought on matters relating to fossil fuel production (EN1526)

From 21,164 petitioners – requesting that influenza vaccines not be made a condition of employment or visitation to aged care facilities (EN1528)

From 51 petitioners – requesting a tax exemption for essential workers (EN1529)

From 208 petitioners – requesting an end to COVID-19 lockdowns (EN1530)

From 11,846 petitioners – regarding influenza vaccinations (EN1531)

From 647 petitioners – requesting the introduction of monitored home quarantine during COVID-19 (EN1532)

From 93 petitioners – requesting a vote in support of the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 (PN0473)

From 204 petitioners – regarding radioactive waste near Kimba, South Australia (PN0474)

From 511 petitioners – regarding the persecution and organ harvesting of Falun Gong in China (PN0475)

Petition certified at meeting of 10 June 2020

From 1,147 petitioners – requesting the establishment of a Federal Integrity Commission that upholds the Beechworth Principles (PN0477)

2. The following ministerial responses to petitions were received:

Ministerial responses considered on 13 May 2020

From the Minister for Finance – to a petition regarding lowering the voting age to 16 (EN1078)

From the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business – to a petition regarding the regulatory strategies, policies and activities of the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) (EN1129)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding a Bill of Rights (EN1140)

From the Minister Energy and Emissions Reduction – to a petition regarding a ban on incandescent lighting (EN1146) (EN1147) (EN1148)

From the Minister for Health – to a petition regarding Australian participation in international clinical trials for paediatric neuroblastoma (EN1154)

From the Minister for Government Services – to a petition regarding support for visually impaired people (EN1155)

From the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts – to a petition regarding 5G technology (EN1157)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding section 45D of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (EN1160)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding charges against an individual (EN1162)

From the Minister for Education – to a petition regarding mandatory first aid training for school aged children (EN1165)

From the Minister for Industrial Relations – to a petition regarding Paid Parental Leave (EN1167)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding police strip searches (EN1168)

From the Minister for Health – to a petition regarding the regulation of e-cigarettes (EN1170)

From the Minister for Veterans' Affairs – to a petition regarding the Department of Veterans' Affairs decision and review practices (EN1172)

From the Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management – to a petition regarding single-use plastic bags (EN1181)

From the Minister for Regional Development and Territories – to a petition regarding statehood of the Northern Territory (EN1188)

From the Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure – to a petition regarding regional development in North West Victoria (EN1190)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding breaches of section 44 of the Constitution (EN1198)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding regional processing and resettlement arrangements for refugees (EN1202)

From the Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology – to a petition regarding bank lending policies (EN1204)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding withdrawing the Religious Discrimination Bill (EN1224)

From the Minister for the Environment– to a petition regarding a Royal Commission into global warming (EN1231)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding arson offences and associated penalties (EN1233)

From the Assistant Treasurer – to a petition regarding direct debit payments (EN1269)

From the Minister for the Environment– to a petition regarding Australia's natural heritage and building disaster management capabilities (EN1291)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding the spread of COVID-19 (EN1316)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding the spread of COVID-19 (EN1332)

From the Minister for Health – to a petition regarding legislation relating to immunisations (PN0460)

From the Minister for the Environment – to a petition regarding seismic testing off the NSW coast (PN0463)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding the addition of a preamble on Indigenous Australians into the Constitution (PN0466)

Ministerial responses considered on 10 June 2020

From the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction – to a petition regarding leaving the Paris Climate Agreement (EN1116)

From the Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology – to a petition regarding EFTPOS fees (EN1130)

From the Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management – to a petition regarding plastic packaging (EN1142)

From the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia – to a petition regarding a royal commission into the Murray Darling Basin Authority (EN1149)

From the Minister for Employment – to a petition regarding a royal commission into the treatment of the unemployed and single parents (EN1159)

From the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety & Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding processing times for skilled regional visas (EN1173)

From the Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management – to a petition regarding the environmental impact of helium balloons (EN1175)

From the Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology – to a petition regarding EFTPOS and withdrawal fees (EN1207)

From the Minister for Finance – to a petition regarding political donations (EN1211)

From the Minister for the Environment – to a petition regarding policy for reforestation of unproductive land (EN1228)

From the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding claims of the Piri family (EN1232)

From the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management – to a petition regarding firefighting robots and associated training (EN1235)

From the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister – to a petition regarding the honours list for fire fighters (EN1238)

From the Minister for Health – to a petition regarding Pseudoephedrine Prescriptions (EN1250)

From the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction – to a petition requesting a citizen's assembly for climate and ecological justice (EN1251)

From the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction – to a petition regarding legislation for climate change (EN1253)

From the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management – to a petition regarding bushfire mitigation strategies (EN1267)

From the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction – to a petition regarding reducing fossil fuel emissions (EN1270)

From the Minister for Finance – to a petition regarding federal politician's remuneration (EN1275)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services – to a petition regarding female domestic violence against children and men (EN1276)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition requesting an independent commission against corruption (EN1277)

From the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology – to a petition regarding country of origin food labelling (EN1279)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding a suspension of the international development program (EN1280)

From the Minister for Health – to a petition regarding blood donation requirements (EN1283)

From the Minister for the Environment – to a petition regarding Australia's flora and fauna (EN1295)

From the Minister for the Environment – to a petition regarding Australia's flora and fauna (EN1296)

From the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians – to a petition requesting a review to tender aged care assessment arrangements (EN1299)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding international flights coming to Australia (EN1301)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding an independent commission against corruption (EN1303)

From the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians – to a petition regarding misleading packaging (EN1304)

From the Minister for the Environment – to a petition regarding a memorial and museum for extinct and endangered Australian species (EN1313)

From the Minister for Indigenous Australians – to a petition regarding the Australian Constitution (EN1321)

From the Minister for Finance – to a petition regarding four year fixed terms for both houses in Federal Parliament (EN1345)

From the Minister for Health – to a petition regarding vaccine safety (EN1356)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding travel to Korea during COVID-19 (EN1359)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding Australian boarders during COVID-19 (EN1385)

From the Minister for Education – to a petition regarding HELP debts during COVID-19 (EN1403)

From the Minister for Families & Social Services – to a petition regarding Newstart payments (PN0458)

From the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister– to a petition regarding changing the date of Australia Day (PN0464)

From the Minister for the Environment – to a petition regarding the protection of Australia's natural heritage (PN0472)

Mr Ken O'Dowd

Chair – Petitions Committee