Individuals and groups may lodge a petition to Council to request action or ask that action not be taken in relation to a matter.
What is a petition?
A petition must be in writing and contain specific information. Council’s Governance Rules require a minimum of 15 signatories for a petition to be tabled at a Council Meeting. To learn more about how to write a petition that will be accepted, refer to our Petition Guidelines below.
A person may lodge a petition with Council, and if the petition is lodged 10 business days prior to the Council meeting it will be included in the Council agenda for that meeting. If a petition is lodged less than 10 business days prior to a Council meeting, the petition will be included in the next Council agenda.
Petition Guidelines
A person lodging a petition is to ensure that the petition contains:
a) a clear and concise statement identifying the subject matter and the action requested;
b) a heading on each page indicating the subject matter;
c) a brief statement on each page of the subject matter and the action requested;
d) a statement specifying the number of signatories; and
e) the full printed name, address, and signature of the person lodging the petition at the end of the petition.
Petitions must not be indecent, abusive or objectionable in language or substance.
Every page of the petition must bear the wording of the whole of the petition or request and include the name, address and signature of petitioners.
Signatures appearing on a page of a petition which does not bear the wording of the whole of the petition or request, must not be considered by Council.
Petitions presented to Council must be written (other than pencil).
Council may accept genuine electronic petitions if it is satisfied that the petition is authentic and has been received from a legitimate website, contains a clear and concise statement identifying subject matter and action requested and includes the name, address (suburb and postcode as a minimum) of all electronic signatories.
Any resident of Victoria may sign a petition.
A petition will be presented by a Councillor at the Council Meeting and the Councillor presenting the petition:
a) shall identify the issue;
b) shall state the number of signatures attached to the petition;
c) shall read the petition in full or precis form; and
d) may move 'That the petition be received and noted' and any other action appropriate.
Any petition containing fewer than 15 signatures will not be presented at a Council meeting and will, instead, be forwarded to the relevant Director or Executive Manager for a response.