The Standing Committee on Petitions is a committee of the Australian House of Representatives responsible for the processing of petitions addressed to the House of Representatives. The committee is governed by Standing Order 220 and consists of eight members, five government members and three non-government members. The chair is appointed by the Prime Minister and the deputy chair by the Leader of the Opposition under Standing Order 232.
History The Procedure Committee undertook a study tour of other parliaments in 2006, resulting in a report which, among other things noted the potential value in the establishment of a Petitions Committee modelled on the Public Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament. This was followed by a further report of the Procedure Committee in September 2007 formally recommending the creation of a Petitions Committee. in 2008 the Rudd Government amended standing orders establishing a Standing Committee on Petitions for the first time.
Membership 48th Parliament In the 48th parliament (July 2025 – present), the membership of the committee is as follows:
Member Party Electorate (chair) Labor Division of Dunkley, Victoria (deputy chair) Liberal National Division of McPherson, Queensland Liberal National Division of Fadden, Queensland Labor Division of Petrie, Queensland Labor Division of Bullwinkel, Western Australia Labor Division of Forde, Queensland Liberal National Division of Wide Bay, Queensland Labor Division of Pearce, Western Australia
47th Parliament In the 47th parliament (July 2022 – March 2025), the membership of the committee was as follows:
Member Party Electorate Chair Labor Division of Macquarie, Queensland Deputy Chair Liberal National Division of Bonner, Queensland Nationals Division of Nicholls, Victoria Labor Division of Cunningham, New South Wales Labor Division of Bendigo, Victoria Garth Hamilton Liberal National Division of Groom, Queensland Labor Division of Pearce, Western Australia Labor Division of Paterson, New South Wales
46th Parliament In the 46th parliament (July 2019 – April 2022), the membership of the committee was as follows:
Member Party Electorate Llew O'Brien Chair Liberal National Division of Wide Bay, Queensland
List of Inquiries Parliament Reference date Report title Tabled date 42nd 4 June 2008 Electronic petitioning to the House of Representatives 16 November 2009 12 February 2008 The work of the first Petitions Committee: 2008-2010 21 June 2010 43rd 25 October 2010 The work of the Petitions Committee: 2010-2013 - An established part of the democratic process 24 June 2013 44th 4 December 2013 The work of the Petitions Committee: 2013-2016 5 May 201645th 24 May 2017 Making voices heard: Inquiry into the e-petitioning system of the House of Representatives Petitions Committee 29 May 2018 15 August 2018 Your voice can change our future: Inquiry into the future of petitioning in the House 21 February 2019 46th 9 December 2020 Report on the inquiry into aspects of petitioning security and accessibility 24 June 2021 47th No inquiries held48th 4 November 2025 Inquiry into the Standing Orders relating to petitionsTBC
List of Chairs
Parliament Chair Term Deputy 1 42nd Julia Irwin – Russell Broadbent 2 43rd John Murphy – Dennis Jensen 3 44th Dennis Jensen –Justine Elliot 445th Ross Vasta – 5 Lucy Wicks – 6 46th Llew O'Brien – 7 Ken O'Dowd – 8 47th Susan Templeman –28 March 2025 Ross Vasta 9 48th Jodie Belyea –Incumbent Leon Rebello
See also Australian House of Representatives committees House of Commons Petitions Committee
Notes
References
External links Official website of the Australian House of Representatives