Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Mr Speaker, as you know, there is a dedicated time for the presentation of petitions and ministers' responses to petitions every sitting Monday. In fact, after the acknowledgement of country and prayers, the presentation of petitions is the very first item of business in the sitting week—emphasising the importance of petitions as a way for Australian citizens and residents to directly make a request of the House of Representatives.

When the House doesn't meet on a Monday of a sitting week, petitions are not usually presented by the Petitions Committee. I note that individual members may also present petitions on behalf of their constituents.

But given that the House has not met for several weeks, the Petitions Committee agreed to seek leave to present petitions and ministers' responses at a different time than usual. Today, I present 55 petitions and 31 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented. Importantly, this presentation allows for the petitions to be referred to the relevant minister for a response without undue delay, and for the ministerial responses to be provided to the petitioners and published on the parliamentary website.

I thank the House.