This Inquiry reviewed current international practice regarding petitions in parliament, recommending reforms to streamline the process locally and encourage more Australian residents to submit petitions.

This report recommends that the Department of the House of Representatives, in conjunction with the Department of Parliamentary Services, work within existing resources to update the House e-petitions system and web page design to improve user experience and accessibility for all users.

Electronic petitions (e-petitions) have been introduced in Australian legislatures and internationally to improve public engagement with the political process and to make democracy more accessible, participatory and responsive. In Victoria, both houses of Parliament accept only paper petitions in accordance with relevant standing orders, however...