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

As part of the inquiry into the future of petitioning in the House, this committee heard via videoconference last week from the Petitions Committee of the UK House of Commons. The chair of the committee, Helen Jones, explained that petitions can be referred for debate in their second chamber, Westminster Hall. She suggested that these debates, together with the introduction of e-petitioning, have significantly increased public engagement and interest in petitions. Currently, the Australian parliament does not have a similar mechanism to refer petitions for debate in either chamber. On behalf of the committee, I thank the House of Commons for the opportunity to learn from their experience with petitions.

This inquiry is a timely opportunity for the committee to reflect on its role and its current practices and to consider ways to further strengthen the petitioning process in Australia. The committee hopes that some of the outcomes of this current inquiry could lead to positive change as part of an integral part of our democratic process. I look forward to updating the House further on the work of the Petitions Committee and on the progress of the committee's inquiry.