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

I present the 22nd report of the Petitions Committee for the 46th Parliament, comprising two petitions and 44 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented. Due to the cycle of the petitioning process there are no e-petitions to be presented today. The two petitions I present are paper petitions, each containing signatures that have been collected by hand through face-to-face engagement in each petitioner's community. While this method of petitioning has become more difficult during the times of COVID-19, paper petitions continue to be received by the committee. For centuries, this has been the only form of petitioning. Nowadays, with the introduction of e-petitioning, support for petitioning is usually gained through online communities via social media, emails, blogs and subscriptions. This method has become the preferred way to petition the parliament and, in today's environment, it's also COVID-friendly.

Regardless of the way the signatures are collected, petitions remain a popular way for people to engage directly with parliament. The committee takes pride in its role of facilitating the petitioning process, regardless of what format the petitions are submitted in, and it's pleased to be able to support this longstanding parliamentary tradition.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I look forward to further updating the House on the work of the committee.

The report read as follows—

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PETITIONS COMMITTEE

REPORT No. 22

Petitions and Ministerial Responses

22 February 2021

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Chair Mr Ken O'Dowd MP

Deputy Chair Hon Justine Elliot MP

Mrs Bridget Archer MP

Ms Lisa Chesters MP

Ms Gladys Liu MP

Mr Julian Simmonds MP

Mr James Stevens MP

Ms Susan Templeman MP

Report summarising the petitions and Ministerial responses being presented.

The committee met in private session on 17 February 2021

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

From 534 petitioners – requesting the preservation of current medical services at Mount Compass (PN0498)

From 36 petitioners – requesting for action to be taken regarding the persecution and organ harvesting of Falun Gong in China (PN0499)

The following ministerial responses to petitions were received:

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding Australia's engagement with the United Nations (EN1174)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition requesting support for Ms Pamela Anne Douglas (EN1239)

From the Assistant Treasurer – to a petition requesting the introduction of right to repair legislation (EN1367)

From the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment – to a petition requesting stringent restrictions on land rights and locally produced resources for foreign interests (EN1455)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition requesting the rejection of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2020(EN1575)

From the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment – to a petition regarding specialised support for travel agents (EN1734)

From the Minister for Health – to a petition requesting the removal of restrictions for prescribing hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin (EN1745)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding Kurdish independence (EN1760)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding the processing of temporary visas for the partners of temporary Australian visa holders who are residing abroad (EN1775)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding prospective marriage (subclass 300) visa applications during COVID-19 (EN1781)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting a formal agreement between Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK to promote cooperation in defence, trade and citizenship (EN1811)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding updates to the Migration Amendment (Hong Kong Passport Holders) Regulations 2020(EN1822)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition requesting the Australian Broadcasting Corporation withdraw programs that misrepresent Falun Gong (EN1854)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition requesting an exemption from Australia's travel restrictions for New Zealand citizens (EN1860)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding temporary residents who have remained in Australia during COVID-19 (EN1874)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding recommencing partner visa processing for onshore and offshore applicants (EN1875)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding prospective marriage visas (EN1885)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding releasing the Australian skilled visa grants lodged before COVID-19 (EN1886)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding a revision of the criteria for granting an exemption from Australia's travel restrictions to include individuals who fall outside of direct family relationships (EN1892)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding the approval of travel exemptions for temporary visa holders who are unable to return to Australia due to the travel restrictions (EN1893)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding the easing of travel restrictions to allow overseas partners to visit Australia (EN1896)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding international students and travel restrictions (EN1903)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding prospective marriage visas (EN1904)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition regarding banning social media for Australians under the age of 18 (EN1913)

From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Act 2020(EN1915)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition requesting the establishment of a Royal Commission to ensure the strength and diversity of Australian news media (EN1938)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition regarding banning omegle.com (EN1943)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding approval of travel exemption for temporary visa holders who are unable to return to Australia due to the travel restrictions (EN1944)

From the Minister for Veterans' Affairs – to a petition requesting amendments to the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986(EN1946)

From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition requesting inclusion of parents and siblings of Australian citizens and permanent residents as immediate family members for the purpose of exemption from Australia's travel restrictions (EN1964)

From the Minister for Education and Youth – to a petition requesting full subsidised child care for all Australians (EN1967)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding a pathway to permanent residency for temporary residents who have been unable to return to Australia during the COVID-19 (EN1994)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding increased international development assistance for access to family planning (EN1996)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition regarding in-game purchases and the application of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001(EN1997)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding human rights in Thailand (EN2005)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, organ harvesting and trafficking in China (EN2020)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, organ harvesting and trafficking in China (PN0421)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, organ harvesting and trafficking in China (PN0428)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting action in response to the report of the China Tribunal Judgement released by the Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China(PN0431)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting action in response to the report of the China Tribunal Judgement released by the Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China(PN0433)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting action in response to the report of the China Tribunal Judgement released by the Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China(PN0439)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting action in response to the report of the China Tribunal Judgement released by the Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China(PN0440)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services – to a petition regarding single and couple rates of Age Pension (PN0487)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, organ harvesting and trafficking in China (PN0490)

Mr Ken O'Dowd

Chair – Petitions Committee