The Standing Committee on Petitions
has launched a new inquiry to examine certain aspects of security and accessibility relating to the House's petitioning system.
The inquiry will examine the Committee's requirement to balance a secure and compliant petitioning system, while maintaining a high-level of accessibility for petitioners. It will also examine the impact that fraudulent behaviour has on the petitioning process and what further measures, if any, can be implemented to ensure the ongoing provision of a legitimate and robust petitioning process.
Committee Chair, Mr Ken O'Dowd MP, said 'The Committee has an important role in ensuring an open and accessible petitioning system, but we need to make sure that it is as robust as it can be without compromising this.'
'We want to encourage people to petition, not deter them, but we also don't want to see fraudulent behaviour.'
The Committee welcomes submissions addressing the terms of reference from interested parties. Submissions are due by 18 February 2021.
The full terms of reference for the inquiry and information about how to make a submission can be found on the Committee's website.
