Start a petition

Getting started

• Read about the Yirrkala petitions on the Australian Parliament history timeline. Discuss the following questions with the class:
  • What were the Yirrkala petitions trying to achieve?
  • How were they trying to achieve this?
  • Were they successful?
  • Why do you think they are a significant milestone in the land rights movement?
• Explore petitions currently before Parliament on the Australian Parliament House website. 
  • What do students notice about the structure of the petitions?
  • Which petitions have the most signatures?
  • Why might some petitions have more signatures than others?
• Time permitting, research other historic petitions, including those that have been presented to your state or territory parliament.

Activity (up to 60 minutes)

1. Use one of the discussion strategies in Unpack democracy to lead a class discussion on the following questions: 
   • What is an issue or problem you’d like to see changed in your school or local community?
   • What is the change you'd like to see?
   • Can you do anything to change the issue? If not, who is responsible for the problem/issue?
   • What action would you like those responsible for the issue to take? 
2. A petition is a way to raise awareness and inspire action on issues in the community. Working in pairs or small groups, students identify an issue they would like to petition the school or the Australian Parliament about.
3. Students can use the Petition scaffold to help them structure their petition, considering why action is needed and what action should be taken to address the issue.
4. Once all the petitions are ready, display them on the walls or tables around the room. Give the class a few minutes to look at the ideas on the petitions and decide which issues or actions are the most important to them. Show your support by signing the petitions calling for actions on issues that are important to you. Each student may sign a maximum of 3 petitions, so they must choose carefully!

Discussion questions

• Did some petitions get more signatures than others? What was it about these petitions that inspired so many signatures?
• Why is it important to try to get as many signatures as you can?
• If you wanted to present your petition to Parliament, what actions could you take to try to get as many signatures as possible?

Extension

Take your petition to Parliament! 

As a class, consider which petition may be one to present to Parliament to campaign for action. Once chosen, decide if the class petition will be an e-petition (completed online) or a paper petition. 

Check the requirements for petitions and learn how to start an e-petition on the Australian Parliament House Petitions webpage. Double check the rules for presenting a petition to the House of Representatives and the rules for presenting a petition to the Senate to make sure the petition is valid.

Once the petition is drafted, set a deadline for collecting signatures—for example, 2 weeks.

Task students to collect signatures. Try the following strategies to encourage people to sign the petition:

• Talk to people in the school and local community about the issue and ask them to sign.
• If your petition is online, you can ask a parent or guardian to help share a link on social media. Remember to ensure you include a clear explanation of why the issue is important and how your proposed solution will help.
• Ask your local, state/territory and federal elected representatives to share your petition.
• Email a petition link to friends and family and ask them to sign.
• Brainstorm other creative strategies for reaching people who may be concerned about the issue.

If you are hoping to have your petition tabled – presented – in the Australian Parliament, you may like to ask one of your federally elected representatives to present it for you. Senate petitions must be presented by a senator.

• Getting involved
• Years 7+8