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

I present the 36th report of the Petitions Committee for the 46th Parliament, together with 59 petitions and 95 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented.

As we approach the end of the 46th Parliament, I want to take the opportunity to draw attention to the work of the committee. As an extension of the House of Representatives, the Standing Committee on Petitions can only operate during the term of a parliament. Once a parliament dissolves, so too does the committee.

However, the Petitions Committee process does not completely stop between parliaments. For example, if a response to a petition referred to a minister has not been received before this parliament dissolves, that petition will still need a response in the 47th Parliament from the relevant minister. In practice, we encourage all ministers to respond to petitions within the expected 90 days and before the end of the parliament. This ensures petitioners receive timely information about the issues raised in their petition.

Petitioners can also request new e-petitions or paper petitions between the end of this parliament and the start of the new parliament. These requests are held by the secretariat for consideration by the new committee.

The Australian public clearly values the petitioning process. To date this parliament has received 1,664 e-petitions, and 76 paper petitions have been approved by the committee. There have been over 4.6 million signatures to e-petitions and 132,000 signatures made by hand on paper petitions.

We anticipate that the keen engagement with petitioning will resume in the new parliament, and the Standing Committee on Petitions will continue to update the House accordingly.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PETITIONS COMMITTEE REPORT No. 36

Petitions and Ministerial Responses

31 March 2022

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 9 February, 16 February and 9 March 2022.

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

Petitions certified on 9 February 2022

From 19 petitioners—requesting unvaccinated individuals who are not Australian citizens not be permitted to enter the country (EN3822)

From 5 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3823)

From 3 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3824)

From 10 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3825)

From 11 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3826)

From 3 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3827)

From 3 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3828)

From 2 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3836)

From 2 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3856)

From 385 petitioners—requesting healthcare workers not be required to receive vaccines (EN3857)

From 546 petitioners—requesting provision of social security to 491 and 494 visa holders (EN3858)

From 2 petitioners—requesting the cancellation of Novak Djokovic's visa (EN3861)

From 108 petitioners—requesting the Australian Sports Medal be awarded to all past Australian Invictus Games teams (EN3865)

From 1 petitioner—requesting changes to the requirements for onshore approval of 143 visas (EN3868)

From 3 petitioners—requesting a travel exemption on humanitarian grounds for family members of Australian citizens or residents (EN3869)

From 12 petitioners—requesting the introduction of the vaccine Corbevax in Australia (EN3871)

From 326 petitioners—requesting processing of all outstanding 491 and 190 visa applications by the end of the current financial year (EN3872)

From 1 petitioner—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3873)

From 3 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3875)

From 5 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency for students who studied in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic (EN3877)

From 3 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3878)

From 5 petitioners—requesting permanent residency for all childcare workers who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic (EN3879)

From 6 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3881)

From 251 petitioners—requesting a reduction in processing times for 887 visas (EN3882)

From 1492 petitioners—requesting access to the National Diabetes Support Scheme for adults with cystic fibrosis related diabetes (EN3885)

From 141,382 petitioners—requesting the cessation of vaccine mandates (EN3886)

From 104 petitioners—requesting the introduction of priority consideration assessments for permanent residency applications (EN3890)

From 44 petitioners—requesting LGBTQIA+ sex education be taught in schools (EN3892)

From 50 petitioners—requesting the establishment of a federal Independent Commission Against Corruption (EN3893)

From 4 petitioners—requesting Australia cease alliances with Japan until Japan implements joint child custody arrangements (EN3897)

From 60 petitioners—requesting a pathway to permanent residency (EN3901)

From 15 petitioners—requesting the date Australia Day is held be changed (EN3902)

From 30 petitioners—requesting measures to ensure affordable housing be implemented (EN3904)

From 6 petitioners—requesting Medicare Lifetime Health Cover be waived for newly arrived immigrants to Australia (EN3906)

From 9 petitioners—requesting the date of Australia Day be changed to 8 May (EN3908)

From 31 petitioners—requesting Australia Day be changed to 18 January and that 26 January be recognised as Survival Day (EN3909)

From 66 petitioners—requesting the decriminalisation of cannabis with a limit of two plants to each household (EN3916)

From 1355 petitioners—requesting prioritisation of assistance to Professor Sean Turnell to facilitate his release from jail in Myanmar (EN3917)

From 36 petitioners—requesting Australia resume invitations to skilled workers in professions listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (EN3918)

From 5349 petitioners—requesting release of Mehdi Ali from immigration detention (EN3920)

From 5 petitioners—requesting Australia open its borders to all fully vaccinated international tourists (EN3921)

From 17 petitioners—requesting a Royal Commission into harassment and gaslighting of public servants (EN3925)

From 1233 petitioners—requesting legislation to prevent vaccine mandates (EN3926)

From 28 petitioners—requesting bridging visa holders be permitted to leave and re-enter Australia without the need for exemptions (EN3927)

Petitions certified on 16 February 2022

From 822 petitioners—requesting establishment of a Commonwealth Heritage Act to protect brumbies (EN3929)

From 7 petitioners—requesting changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme funding (EN3931)

From 146 petitioners—requesting a review of tax legislation in relation to total and permanent disability insurance payments (EN3932)

From 162 petitioners—requesting the release of asylum seekers from immigration detention (EN3933)

From 14 petitioners—requesting changes to the citizenship application process for children born in Australia (EN3934)

From 78 petitioners—requesting changes to the dental implant policy of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (EN3937)

From 2921 petitioners—requesting an increase to Centrelink payments (EN3938)

From 893 petitioners—requesting the inclusion of areola tattooing on the Medicare rebate list for survivors of breast cancer (EN3941)

From 13,512 petitioners—requesting fully subsidisation of Constant Glucose Monitoring for Type 1 diabetics (EN3942)

From 7 petitioners—requesting international students studying a master's degree of 1.5 years be granted temporary graduate visa 485 (EN3943)

From 30 petitioners—requesting the introduction of legislation and content regulations surrounding the depiction of sexual violence in the media (EN3944)

From 132 petitioners—requesting legislation prohibiting detention of refugees for more than six months (EN3945)

From 301 petitioners—requesting improved mobile phone and internet services in Tarrawingee, Victoria (EN3946)

From 844 petitioners—requesting modulators be made available for all individuals with cystic fibrosis (EN3948)

From 3272 petitioners—requesting changes to the Australian Research Council Act 2001 to preserve the Australia Research Council's independence (EN3949)

The following ministerial responses to petitions were received:

Received by the Committee on 16 February 2022

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting herpes simplex virus be included in all standard sexually transmissible infections tests (EN2216)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting changes to the approval process of Crohn's medication (EN2238)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services—to a petition requesting use of the Cashless Debit Card cease (EN2548)

From the Minister for Housing—to a petition regarding regional visa holders acquiring property in regional areas (EN2708)

From the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia—to a petition requesting the use of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) be banned in Australia (EN2801)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting the opening of international borders (EN2883)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition requesting the House provide diplomatic support and aid in response to civil unrest in South Africa (EN2935)

From the Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education—to a petition requesting the House oversee provision of mobile phone coverage in the Moore Creek area of New South Wales (EN2998)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting that no one other that medical professionals be permitted to request medical information (EN3112)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting changes to public health measures used to control COVID-19 (EN3266)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting that the biosecurity emergency period declared in response to COVID-19 under the Biosecurity Act 2015 cease (EN3277)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition regarding the Therapeutic Goods Administration's position on ivermectin (EN3364)

From the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia—to a petition requesting Biosecurity Amendment (Enhanced Risk Management) Bill 2021 not be supported (EN3405)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting the standard cycle threshold (Ct) of the COVID-19 PCR test be lowered to 28 Ct (EN3416)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines be recognised as valid vaccines for international students returning to Australia (EN3425)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services—to a petition requesting an increase to social security pension payments (EN3471)

From the Assistant Treasurer—to a petition requesting the luxury car tax be removed (EN3483)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting that COVID-19 vaccines not be provided to children aged five to eleven years (EN3496)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition regarding the production of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (EN3497)

From the Attorney-General—to a petition regarding the rights of Indigenous Australians (EN3510)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting the introduction of a no fault national vaccine injury compensation scheme (EN3532)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts—to a petition regarding the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's coverage of various issues (EN3534)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting changes to the Medicare gap payment process (PN0491)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition regarding human rights violations of Kashmiris (PN0524)

Received by the Committee on 9 March 2022

From the Leader of the House—to a petition regarding communication by Members of Parliament with the public (EN1252)

From the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment—to a petition requesting cancellation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (EN2206)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition requesting Australian contributions to the Asian Development Fund and the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative cease (EN2299)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services—to a petition requesting the child support scheme be removed (EN2489)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services—to a petition regarding childcare subsidies and income support (EN2602)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services—to a petition requesting the age of independence for youth allowance be reduced from 22 to 18 years (EN2680)

From the Minister for Home Affairs—to a petition requesting unmarried and same-sex couples be permitted to enter Australia under a travel exemption (EN2702)

From the Minister for Home Affairs—to a petition requesting automatic travel exemptions for prospective marriage (subclass 300) visa holders (EN2712)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services—to a petition requesting a review of youth allowance and the income free threshold (EN2743)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition requesting humanitarian assistance to Myanmar through third party organisations (EN2788)

From the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and Cabinet—to a petition requesting the name of Australia be changed to Royston Vasey (EN2822)

From the Assistant Treasurer—to a petition requesting COVID-19 support payments be reinstated (EN2837)

From the Attorney-General—to a petition requesting the Constitution be changed to remove the pronouns 'he' and 'his' (EN3040)

From the Assistant Treasurer—to a petition requesting income support for small business and private sector workers during lockdowns (EN3230)

From the Minister for Housing—to a petition regarding home ownership and housing inflation (EN3249)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts—to petitions regarding unsolicited political communications (EN3264, EN3288, EN3296, EN3328 and EN3329)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition requesting the Australian Government recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state (EN3283)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts—to a petition requesting the restriction of gambling advertising (EN3287)

From the Minister for Housing—to a petition requesting the HomeBuilder grant be re-opened for applications (EN3293)

From the Minister for Housing—to a petition requesting the HomeBuilder grant be re-opened for applications (EN3295)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting increased federal funding for specialised eating disorder services in South Australia (EN3380)

From the Minister for Defence—to a petition requesting 2 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment be restored to the Australian Army's Order of Battle (EN3407)

From the Acting Minister for Education and Youth—to a petition requesting Lantite testing requirements for teachers be removed (EN3408)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts—to a petition requesting an investigation into the services provided by Australia Post (EN3424)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts—to a petition requesting the restriction of gambling advertising on television (EN3434)

From the Minister for Housing—to a petition requesting the HomeBuilder grant be re-opened for new applications (EN3435)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts—to a petition requesting media outlets be banned from sharing photographs of accidents for 48 hours following an incident (EN3438)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition requesting targeted economic sanctions on Myanmar and military coup leaders (EN3443)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts—to a petition regarding the representation of children in advertising content (EN3449)

From the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme—to a petition requesting improved access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme for people with complex psychosocial disabilities (EN3450)

From the Minister for the Environment—to a petition requesting trade with Denmark be suspended due to whale and dolphin hunting (EN3477)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting increased federal funding for specialised eating disorder programs and treatments (EN3482)

From the Minister for Defence—to a petition requesting less stringent medical and physical fitness enlistment requirements for the Australian Defence Force (EN3509)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition requesting support for Julian Assange (EN3512)

From the Minister for Housing—to a petition requesting the HomeBuilder program be reopened (EN3643)

From the Minister for Housing—to a petition regarding affordable housing (EN3772)

From the Minister for Housing—to a petition requesting the HomeBuilder program be reopened for applications (EN3810)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting the development of a national rural mental health strategy (PN0426)

Received by the Committee on 30 March 2022

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition requesting the Australian Government formally recognise the Central Tibetan Administration as the Government of Tibet (EN1855)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to petitions requesting assistance following the sinking of the Gulf Livestock 1 (EN1898 and EN1900)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition requesting support for Uyghur Muslims in China (EN1914)

From the Special Minister of State—to a petition requesting donations to political parties from fossil fuel industry participants cease (EN1919)

From the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme—to a petition regarding funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (EN1976)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services—to a petition requesting amendments to child support legislation (EN2402)

From the Minister for Families and Social Services—to a petition requesting pension payments be increased (EN2464)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for aged care workers be removed (EN2901)

From the Special Minister of State—to a petition requesting changes to preferential voting (EN3038)

From the Special Minister of State—to a petition requesting changes to preferential voting (EN3126)

From the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme—to a petition requesting additions to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (EN3215)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting Trikafta be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for cystic fibrosis (EN3224)

From the Assistant Treasurer—to a petition requesting the designation of Facebook under the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code (EN3485)

From the Minister for the Environment—to a petition regarding the development of new coal mines (EN3499)

From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts—to a petition requesting a national redesign of the National Broadband Network (EN3518)

From the Assistant Treasurer—to a petition requesting the designation of digital platforms under the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code (EN3530)

From the Minister for Defence—to a petition requesting 2 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment be restored to the Australian Army's Order of Battle (EN3556)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting a health legislation amendment (EN3575)

From the Special Minister of State—to a petition requesting the use of graphite pencils to mark ballot papers at federal elections be banned (EN3592)

From the Minister for Home Affairs—to a petition requesting changes to Australia's international borders (EN3612)

From the Minister for Home Affairs—to a petition requesting adult children of Australian citizens and permanent residents be considered immediate family for the purpose of travel exemptions (EN3633)

From the Acting Minister for Education and Youth—to a petition requesting the Australian Curriculum be revised (EN3639)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition regarding conflict in Ethiopia (EN3650)

From the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia—to a petition requesting the Australian Government cease all support of animal production industries (EN3657)

From the Minister for Home Affairs—to a petition requesting siblings of Australian citizens and permanent residents be considered immediate family for the purpose of travel exemptions (EN3658)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition regarding the waiting period for pregnancy related private health insurance (EN3691)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting the establishment of a National Centre for Disease Control (EN3770)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting the display of alcohol content on bar taps (EN3782)

From the Minister for Foreign Affairs—to a petition requesting Australia recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state (EN3798)

From the Minister for the Environment—to a petition requesting additional koala protections and supports (EN3804)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting discounted egg-freezing treatments for women aged between 28 and 37 years (EN3808)

From the Minister for Health and Aged Care—to a petition requesting the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and any future variants be considered new pandemics (EN3814)

From the Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories—to a petition requesting section 50A of the Northern Territory (Self Government) Act 1978 be repealed (PN0527)

Mr Ken O'Dowd

Chair — Petitions Committee