Several e-petitions were launched in the back half of 2024 in the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament across Australia, featuring issues that recreational deer hunters would be interested in, mainly around public land access.
This provides a timely opportunity to discuss what petitions are and, more importantly, what they are not.
There is a perception, driven by the public's goodwill, that such petitions can be a vehicle for change or for achieving a desired result on any issue. Sign a petition, and it will be so!
Regrettably, the reality of e-petitions to parliament falls well short of the hopeful expectations of the eager signatories.
Generally speaking, parliaments will enable a sponsored petition to be tabled once it has exceeded a certain threshold of signatures. This effectively means the petition will be recorded by Hansard (an official report of parliamentary proceedings), and the responsible minister will provide an answer within a nominated time frame (usually just over a month’s time).
There is no obligation about what the response contains or further action. No government would ever subject itself and its hopes of re-election to the mercy of random petitions. Consequently, responses typically acknowledge the petition and then provide motherhood statements on the subject or refer to previous government policies, statements, or talking points. And that’s it.
This is why it's rare that large organisations that invest years of time and effort into advocacy work will actively promote or support a petition; it won't deliver a policy outcome and, often, there is a price to pay for doing so that is detrimental to ongoing work that may provide a desired result.
So, do they have a purpose?
They can. Often, their best purpose is to raise awareness of a niche issue that would otherwise be impossible or difficult. If there is an issue a minister is unaware of, and they must respond to a petition in parliament, even with a few words, it does generate awareness where it may not have existed.
Does our industry suffer from this? No. Our issues are regularly advocated for through the political matrix, so a lack of awareness is not often a concern we are trying to rectify.
Like all things politics, a petition can also have a political purpose. Generally, a petition sponsored by an MP is either in opposition or on the cross-bench. The petition can have a useful political angle for them to pursue. While they know it won’t result in a policy outcome, it can attract attention to a controversial issue, keep it in the news, or attempt to have the government comment publicly on the subject; in some cases, it can help them to be seen as champions of a cause and provide some associated coverage.
Should I sign?
The Australian Deer Association will never direct people on what to do, whether voting or signing a petition. We always strive to provide as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision and hopefully have a realistic expectation of the outcome of whatever you choose to do. If there is a petition that we think will move the dial and deliver a desired outcome, we will be sure to share it.
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