How many signatures do I need?

There is no single minimum for a parliamentary petition, but more signatures give greater weight. Council policies often set thresholds (for example, 250–500 signatures) for formal consideration. State e-petitions commonly require a minimum threshold to trigger a parliamentary response.

Can I petition the High Court or a court?

No. Courts are not the appropriate recipient of a petition. To approach a court, you file an appropriate originating process (writ, summons, or application) under the court's rules of procedure. Petitions are directed at parliaments, councils, and executive or private decision-makers.

Are online petitions as effective as paper petitions?

In Australia, parliamentary e-petition systems are officially recognised. Third-party sites like change.org have political and media impact but may not be formally received by Australian parliaments unless the signatures are verified according to standing orders.

Do I need to include addresses?

Parliamentary petitions generally require legible signatures and addresses of petitioners. This allows the petition clerk to verify that signatories are real persons. Community petitions may omit addresses if privacy is a concern, but this weakens their evidentiary force.

Can I petition about anything?

A petition must seek action within the addressee's power. For a parliamentary petition, the prayer must ask parliament to take an action within its legislative or resolving power. For councils, the matter must be within the council's local government responsibilities.

How do I present a parliamentary petition?

A federal petition is typically presented by a Member of the House of Representatives who is willing to table it. For the Senate, a Senator performs the same role. Contact your local Member's office or the Clerk's office for guidance on form and lodgement.

Can a minor sign a petition?

Generally yes, though some parliamentary rules require signatories to be entitled to vote (18+). A community petition places no age restriction. For e-petition systems with voter verification, age restrictions may apply.

Is my personal information on the petition private?

Personal information should be used only for the petition purpose. Published petitions may include names and suburbs but commonly redact full addresses. Comply with Australia's Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and any Australian state privacy law where applicable, and tell signatories how their information will be used.

LegalAustralia

General Petition Template

A petition is a formal written request signed by many people asking an authority — parliament, a council, or another decision-maker — to take specific action. Use our free Australian template to prepare a well-structured petition that meets the standing orders of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and state and local government petition procedures.

Create Your General Petition

Free to useInstant PDFNo account required

ADMINISTRATIVE PETITION

City of Sydney Council
Development Applications Unit
Attn: The Director of City Planning
456 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: +61 2 9265 9333
da@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

RE: Request for Reconsideration of Development Application Refusal — 45 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000

25 April 2026

Reference: DA-2026-00142

COMES NOW James T. O'Brien, Director, representing O'Brien Property Group Pty Ltd ("Petitioner"), and respectfully states as follows:

STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. On 15 January 2026, the Petitioner submitted Development Application DA-2026-00142 for a mixed-use building at 45 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
2. By letter dated 20 March 2026, the Council refused the application citing concerns about noise impact on neighbouring residences.
3. The Petitioner engaged Dr. Karen Liu, a qualified acoustic consultant, whose report dated 10 April 2026 demonstrates full compliance with all applicable noise standards under the Sydney Development Control Plan 2012.

LEGAL AND REGULATORY BASIS
Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) s. 4.55, the Petitioner is entitled to seek modification of the determination. The Council's own Development Control Plan (cl. 4.1.2) requires acoustic impact to be assessed against AS/NZS 1055 standards, which the attached expert report confirms are met.

PRIOR ACTIONS TAKEN
On 1 April 2026, the Petitioner wrote to the Council's Planning Director requesting reconsideration and providing a preliminary acoustic report. No substantive response was received within 21 days.

RELIEF REQUESTED
WHEREFORE, the Petitioner respectfully requests that City of Sydney Council:
1. Reconsider Development Application DA-2026-00142 in light of the acoustic expert report submitted herewith.
2. Grant conditional approval of the development application, with conditions as appropriate.
3. Advise the Petitioner of the Council's decision within 14 working days.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
Exhibit A: Acoustic Consultant Report — Dr. Karen Liu, April 2026
Exhibit B: Council Refusal Letter, 20 March 2026
Exhibit C: Prior Correspondence Log

DECLARATION
I certify that the information contained in this petition is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that I am authorised to make this petition on behalf of the parties identified above.

Respectfully submitted, from 45 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000, on 25 April 2026.

PETITIONER

James T. O'Brien

Date: ____________________

What Is a General Petition?

A petition is a formal written request signed by multiple petitioners addressed to a body with authority to act on the subject matter. Petitions have been a foundational form of civic participation in Australia since federation, protected by the implied freedom of political communication recognised by the High Court in Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520 and section 51(xxxi) of the Commonwealth Constitution in some contexts.

In Australia, petitions fall into several categories. Parliamentary petitions are addressed to the Australian House of Representatives or the Senate and must comply with Standing Orders — Standing Order 205 of the House of Representatives Standing Orders, and Standing Order 69 of the Senate. Australian state parliaments and local councils have their own petition rules under their respective standing orders and local government acts.

Community petitions, by contrast, are addressed to a person, business, or Australian organisation and have no specific legal form, but gather political and social pressure through signatures. Online petitions (such as on change.org) are commonly used alongside traditional paper petitions across Australia. Whether parliamentary or community, a well-drafted Australian petition sets out a clear prayer (what is requested), the reasons, and identifies the petitioners through legible signatures and addresses.

What's Covered in This Template

Our petition template provides a clear, professional structure suitable for community or parliamentary use.

Addressee

Name and title of the body or person being petitioned.

Petition Title

Concise title summarising the issue.

Background Statement

Facts and context supporting the request.

The Prayer

Clear, specific request for action.

Statement of Petitioners

Who the petitioners are and why the issue concerns them.

Signature Block

Fields for signature, printed name, address, and date.

Postcode and Electorate

Electoral information to demonstrate constituency relevance.

Principal Petitioner

Contact details of the lead petitioner for correspondence.

Page Numbering

Consecutive page numbering for multi-page petitions.

Date of Presentation

Date the petition will be or was presented.

Compliance Statement

Acknowledgement of relevant parliamentary or council standing orders.

Delivery Details

Method of delivery — parliamentary Member, council, or online.

How to Create a Petition

Follow these steps to prepare a clear, signable petition in minutes.

1
Identify the Addressee
Specify the parliament, council, department, or organisation being petitioned.
2
Write the Background
Explain the issue and why action is needed in plain, factual terms.
3
Draft a Clear Prayer
State exactly what action the petitioners request.
4
Set Up Signature Pages
Include fields for signature, printed name, address, electorate, and date.
5
Review and Download
Add principal petitioner contact details and download the PDF for circulation.

Legal Considerations

The right to petition is a long-standing democratic right, but formal petitions must follow applicable procedures.

This template is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For parliamentary petitions, confirm the current Standing Orders with the relevant parliament's Petitions Committee or Clerk.

Reviewed for Australian law

Federal Parliamentary Petitions

In the Australian Parliament, Standing Order 205 of the House of Representatives and Standing Order 69 of the Senate set out requirements including: the petition must be respectful and moderate in language, identify the petitioners with legible signatures and addresses, and seek action within the power of the House or the Senate. Petitions are typically tabled by an Australian Member of Parliament. The House Petitions Committee considers all petitions received.

State Parliamentary Petitions

Each Australian state parliament has its own standing orders. For example, NSW Legislative Assembly Standing Orders (notably SOs 121–127), Victorian Legislative Assembly Standing Orders (SO 101), and Queensland Parliament's e-petitions process all prescribe form and content. E-petitions are now accepted in most Australian state parliaments through official online platforms.

Local Government Petitions

Australian council petitions are regulated by the Local Government Act in each state — Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), Local Government Act 1989 (Vic) and its 2020 successor, Local Government Act 2009 (Qld), and equivalents. Australian councils typically have their own petitions policy specifying signature thresholds, form requirements, and whether the petition will be considered at a council meeting.

Signature Collection and Privacy

Collecting personal information (name, address, signature) triggers Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) obligations if the collector is an organisation with turnover over $3 million. Use of the information must be limited to the petition purpose. Door-to-door or street collection must also comply with state trespass and nuisance laws, and online petitions must comply with the hosting platform's terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Create Your Petition Now

Make your voice heard with a well-structured, professional petition. Fill in the details and download the PDF in minutes.

Create Your General Petition Browse All Templates

Free · Instant PDF · No account required