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

I present the 27th report of the Petitions Committee for the 46th parliament, together with 38 petitions and 87 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented.

These petitions include 37 e-petitions, and one paper petition. When the e-petitions platform was created it was with the intent of being no more prohibitive than creating or signing a paper petition, and now most petitioners engage with petitioning through the online platform. Despite this, paper petitions remain an important way to engage communities and gather signatures. The standing orders require paper petitions:

Further, the committee's webpage includes helpful advice on how to prepare a petition.

Mr Speaker, since my last presentation in May the committee has continued to receive and consider petitions on a diversity of topics. More than half of the petitions I present today concern matters related to the COVID-19 virus and the challenges it brings to our everyday lives, while many ministerial responses also focus on addressing the public's concerns regarding the virus. Other matters of concern to petitioners which are included in today's report include taxation, child care and rural health care. These petitions included in today's report will also be referred on to ministers for their response.

Mr Speaker, I am also pleased to draw to your attention the work of the Petitions Committee as part of its inquiry into the House petitioning system relating to security and accessibility. The committee looks forward to sharing its findings with the House when available.

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

The report read as follows—

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

PETITIONS COMMITTEE

REPORT No. 27

Petitions and Ministerial Responses

21 June 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 12 May, 26 May, 2 June and 16 June 2021

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

Petitions certified on 12 May 2021

From 973 petitioners - regarding violence in the Tigray region of Ethiopia (EN2613)

From 12 petitioners - requesting age-limit restrictions to adult content on the internet (EN2614)

From 1198 petitioners - regarding shortages of general practitioners in rural Australia and pre-employment structured clinical interview exemptions (EN2616)

From 35 petitioners - regarding taxation of businesses which have received JobKeeper (EN2617)

From 32 petitioners - regarding the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (EN2621)

From 6 petitioners - requesting a Royal Commission into private health insurance (EN2624)

From 60,072 petitioners - requesting a vaccination passport not be adopted (EN2626)

From 8 petitioners - regarding age-based discrimination in the public service (EN2627)

From 98 petitioners - regarding the COVID-19 vaccine available to different age groups (EN2628)

From 491 petitioners - requesting travel exemptions for parents of migrants (EN2630)

From 109 petitioners - requesting travel exemptions (EN2631)

From 28 petitioners - requesting changes to the Child Care Subsidy to more flexibility for parents (EN2632)

From 904 petitioners - requesting the COVID-19 vaccine available to people aged 50 and over (EN2633)

From 17 petitioners - requesting medical support for India in response to the COVID-19 outbreak (EN2636)

From 25 petitioners - regarding religious freedoms (EN2638)

From 4 petitioners - requesting the removal of late lodgement fees for 2019- 20 tax returns (EN2640)

From 10 petitioners - requesting travel exemptions to India (EN2641)

From 1070 petitioners - regarding the resumption of cruise ships (EN2642)

From 940 petitioners - regarding a travel bubble with Taiwan (EN2644)

From 95 petitioners - regarding repatriation flights for Australians (EN2645)

From 2 petitioners - requesting the closure of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (EN2646)

From 4 petitioners - regarding travel bans with India (EN2648)

From 37 petitioners - regarding Australia's COVID-19 hotel quarantine system (EN2650)

From 4 petitioners - regarding travel bans with India (EN2651)

From 17 petitioners - regarding intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines (EN2652)

From 8 petitioners - regarding repatriation flights and quarantine facilities for Australians (EN2653)

From 3 petitioners - regarding grants for Australia's film industry (EN2656)

From 13 petitioners - regarding supports for individuals with chronic pain (EN2657)

From 4 petitioners - regarding the prescription of medical cannabis to patients with chronic illness (EN2658)

From 2 petitioners - regarding the Biosecurity Act 2015 and overpopulation (EN2661)

From 79 petitioners - requesting a ban of free-to-view adult content on the internet (EN2662)

From 9 petitioners - regarding travel bans and repatriation of Australians (EN2663)

From 23 petitioners - regarding travel bans and repatriation of Australians in India (EN2664)

From 22 petitioners - regarding travel bans and repatriation of Australian citizens and permanent residents (EN2665)

From 2 petitioners - regarding the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and immigration quotas (EN2667)

From 89 petitioners - requesting surgeries for transgender people be funded through Medicare and public funding (EN2668)

From 48 petitioners - requesting changes related to meal breaks and penalty hours be made to the Fair Work Act 2009 (EN2670)

Petitions certified on 26 May 2021

From 1 petitioner - regarding funding for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (PN0506)

The following ministerial responses to petitions were received:

Ministerial responses received by the Committee on 26 May 2021

From the Attorney-General - to a petition requesting a Royal Commission into the ratio of public to private entities in Australia (EN2001)

From the Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General - to a petition regarding a review of the motion to legislate a federal human rights act (EN2035)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services - to a petition requesting full Centrelink payments for working grandparents raising grandchildren (EN2044)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition regarding National Broadband Network cabling in Brunswick East (EN2054)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition requesting an investigation into News Corporation (EN2061)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition regarding Section 475 of the Biosecurity Act 2015 (EN2076)

From the Deputy Prime Minister - to a petition requesting a national register for reporting noisy vehicles (EN2078)

From Minister for Industry, Science and Technology - to a petition requesting legislation to require online retailers operating in Australia to include country of origin labelling for all products (EN2081)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition regarding the current code of conduct in Australian journalism (EN2088)

From the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet - to a petition requesting 'I Am Australian' be adopted as the Australian National Anthem (EN2094)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs - to a petition regarding the establishment of a jury of peers to consider referred immigration issues and cases (EN2096)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs - to a petition requesting the removal of a 20-hour work limit for international students (EN2098)

From the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme - to a petition

requesting epilepsy to be considered a disability (EN2104)

From the Assistant Minister for Electoral Matters - to a petition requesting an audit of the Australian election process (EN2112)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services - to a petition requesting a social security agreement between Australia and France (EN2117)

From the Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General - to a petition regarding Australia's adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (EN2121)

From the Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General - to a petition requesting the removal of Minister Tudge from Parliament (EN2127)

From the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet - to a petition requesting a limit on funding and resources available to former politicians (EN2131)

From the Assistant Treasurer - to a petition regarding COVID-19 vaccinations as a prerequisite to travel (EN2132)

From the Minister for Veterans' Affairs - to a petition requesting a Royal Commission into veteran suicide (EN2147)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition requesting an investigation into News Corporation and Australia's news media legislation (EN2152)

From the Minister for Veterans' Affairs - to a petition requesting a Royal Commission into the Department of Veterans' Affairs and other related organisations (EN2154)

From the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development - to a petition requesting a stop to commercial flights at Gold Coast Airport during curfew hours (EN2155)

From the Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General - to a petition requesting the removal of female marriage pronouns (EN2162)

From the Assistant Treasurer - to a petition requesting the Australian Statistical Geography Standard Remoteness Area be revised (EN2163)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition regarding film production funding in Australia (EN2177)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition regarding dishonest political advertising in Australia (EN2181)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services - to a petition requesting the Cashless Debit Card's terms of use be applied to Members of Parliament (EN2185)

From the Assistant Minister for Electoral Matters - to a petition requesting for all recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters' report on the inquiry into 2019 Federal Election be rejected (EN2191)

From the Assistant Minister for Electoral Matters - to a petition regarding compulsory photo identification and early voting during elections in Australia (EN2203)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition requesting changes to Australia's Do Not Call Register (EN2227)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs - to a petition regarding multiculturalism in Australia (EN2232)

From the Minister for Defence - to a petition requesting changes to the

Defence (Inquiry) Regulations 2018 (EN2256)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition requesting an inquiry into the customer service provided by Australia's telecommunications companies (EN2270)

From the Minister for Superannuation - to a petition regarding compulsory superannuation in Australia (EN2279)

From the Deputy Prime Minister - to petitions regarding international passenger arrivals (EN2282; EN2328; EN2382; EN2384; EN2361; EN2330; and EN2324)

From the Minister for Home Affairs - to a petition regarding international flight caps and exemptions (EN2283)

From the Minister for Home Affairs - to a petition regarding Australia's COVID-19 international arrival restrictions (EN2313)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care - to a petition regarding an urgent doctor shortage in Morayfield and Caboolture (EN2333)

From the Minister for Superannuation - to a petition regarding the availability of Australian superannuation funds for New Zealand first home buyers (EN2337)

From the Attorney-General - to a petition regarding Section 122 of the Constitution of Australia (EN2341)

From the Assistant Treasurer - to a petition regarding legislation governing petrol prices in Australia (EN2373)

From the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme - to a petition regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the funding of specialised sex work (EN2380)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care - to a petition requesting restrictions not be imposed on individuals who refuse the COVID-19 vaccination (EN2386)

From the Minister for Home Affairs - to a petition regarding Australia's COVID-19 international arrival restrictions (EN2396)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition regarding Australia's COVID-19 international arrival restrictions (PN0493)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition regarding the Sebastopol Licensed Post Office (PN0497)

From the Minister for Home Affairs - to a petition requesting relocation and support for asylum seekers and refugees detained offshore (PN0500)

Ministerial responses received by the Committee on 2 June 2021

From the Minister for Energy and Emissions - to a petition requesting the rejection of a gas led future in favour of renewables (EN1942)

From the Minister for Energy and Emissions - to a petition regarding a referendum for new coal power stations in Australia (EN1957)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition regarding the self- determination of indigenous Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh (EN2134)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition regarding a commitment for peace in Afghanistan (EN2135)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care - to a petition requesting no restrictions for those who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine (EN2192)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition requesting Australia impose sanctions on China in response to breaches of human rights (EN2210)

From the Minister for Indigenous Australians - to a petition regarding the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody final report recommendations (EN2246)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition regarding the Paris Agreement (EN2306)

From the Minister for Home Affairs - to a petition regarding Australia's COVID-19 international arrival restrictions and quarantine arrangements (EN2311)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to petitions requesting the Australian Government make a statement to the Government of India regarding the Indian farmers' protest (EN2347; EN2354; and EN2377)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition regarding the Myanmar coup (EN2374)

From the Assistant Treasurer - to a petition regarding the Australian Government's COVID-19 financial support payments (EN2381)

From the Assistant Treasurer - to a petition requesting that the tobacco tax be substantially decreased (EN2437)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to petitions regarding persecution and organ harvesting of Falun Gong in China (PN0499 and PN0501)

Ministerial responses received by the Committee on 16 June 2021 From the Assistant Treasurer - to a petition requesting mortgage laws be reformed for people with disabilities (EN1817)

From the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs - to a petition requesting an extension for the Prospective Marriage and Partner Visa (EN1829)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to petitions requesting the Australian government to impose sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials (EN2023 and EN2025)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services - to a petition regarding an adjustment to taxable income (EN2060)

From the Minister for Finance - to a petition regarding the funding and protection of government accountability agencies (EN2116)

From the Minister for Veterans' Affairs - to a petition regarding the appointment of Kerry Stokes to the Council of the Australian War Memorial (EN2118)

From the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet - to a petition requesting a ministry for men (EN2133)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs - to a petition regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on Skilled - Recognised Graduate visa holders (EN2296)

From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs - to a petition requesting the Department of Home Affairs speed up the processing of Skilled Regional visas (subclass 887) (EN2321)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts - to a petition regarding the National Broadband Network (EN2325)

From the Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy - to a petition regarding superannuation funds and member control of the investment of their super contributions (EN2332)

From the Attorney-General - to a petition regarding the eligibility of government Members (EN2376)

From the Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy - to a petition regarding the National Australian Bank Consumer Credit Insurance Class Action (EN2385)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care - to a petition regarding the COVID-19 vaccination (EN2387)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care - to a petition requesting restrictions not be imposed on those who refuse the COVID-19 vaccination (EN2393)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care - to a petition requesting a federal government quarantining facility for international arrivals into Australia (EN2408)

From the Minister for Industrial Relations - to a petition regarding the National Minimum Wage (EN2427)

From the Assistant Treasurer - to a petition regarding JobKeeper and English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students sector employees (EN2428)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in Armenia and multiculturalism in Australia (EN2441)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition requesting the House support an international criminal tribunal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (EN2451)

From the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management - to a petition requesting a Royal Commission into the Australian pesticide regulation system (EN2458)

From the Minister for Housing - to a petition requesting restriction of home loans to a single applicant (EN2486)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition regarding the presence of Eritrean forces in Tigray (EN2510)

From the Speaker of the House of Representatives - to a petition requesting the House remove prayers from the standing orders (EN2599)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs - to a petition regarding Falun Gong and organ trafficking (PN0505)

Mr Ken O'Dowd

Chair - Petitions Committee