Every other jurisdiction has introduced an electronic petition process. South Australians who want to table a petition in Parliament must still collect handwritten signatures and addresses on paper. This is slower, more expensive, and far more time-consuming than the systems used elsewhere. It also disadvantages people who live outside Adelaide, have limited mobility, or simply do not have the time to stand on a street corner with a clipboard.

It is 2026. An electronic option is standard across the country and in most comparable democracies. It does not remove the ability of Members of Parliament to scrutinise petitions; it simply makes it easier for residents to exercise the right to petition.

We ask the South Australian Government and the Parliament to amend the relevant legislation or Standing Orders so that e-petitions can be accepted and tabled in both Houses.

This change would:

Bring South Australia into line with every other Australian state and territory
Reduce the time and cost required to collect signatures
Make it easier for people in regional and remote areas to participate
Improve accessibility for older residents and people with disabilities
Modernise a basic democratic process without reducing parliamentary oversight
Please sign and share. The technology exists. The rest of Australia already uses it. South Australia should too.

E-petitions are not identical across Australia. Each state and territory runs its own system with different rules, thresholds, and features.

QUEENSLAND
Platform: Queensland Parliament e-petitions
Anyone can start one (including non-residents in some cases)
Needs sponsorship by an MP or the Clerk
Open for 1 week to 6 months
Link (open e-petitions): https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-the-assembly/petitions/current
Link (rules and information): https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/rules-and-information
Link (lodge a petition): https://www.qld.gov.au/government/engage/lodge-petition

NEW SOUTH WALES
Platform: NSW Parliament ePetitions
Must be a NSW resident to start or sign
Needs 5 supporters and a Member to present
Open for 3, 12 or 24 weeks
Link (petitioning the Assembly): https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/parliamentary-business/legislative-assembly/petitioning-the-assembly
Link (create an ePetition): https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/parliamentary-business/legislative-assembly/petitioning-the-assembly/submit-epetition-la
Link (ePetitions list): https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/petitions/Pages/house-papers.aspx?tab=Filter&filterHouse=LA&browseDisabled=yes&paperType=Petitions&view=PetitionsViewByDate&petitionRespStatus=5

VICTORIA
Platform: Parliament of Victoria e-petitions
Must be a Victorian resident
Needs a Member to sponsor (Assembly currently not accepting new ones ahead of the election)
Open for 1 week to 6 months
Link (e-petitions): https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/epetition-search/
Link (start an e-petition): https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/create-epetition/
Link (sign a petition): https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/sign/

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Platform: WA Parliament e-petitions (separate systems for Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council)
Must be a WA resident
Needs a Member to facilitate
Open for 1 week to 6 months
Link (petitioning Parliament overview): https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/webcms.nsf/content/petitioningparliament
Link (Legislative Council e-petitions): https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/LCePetitions.nsf/petitions
Link (Legislative Assembly e-petitions): https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/laepetitions.nsf/petitions

TASMANIA
Platform: Tasmanian Parliament House of Assembly e-petitions
Must be a Tasmanian resident
Needs a Member to sponsor
Open for 1 week to 6 months
Link (e-petitions information): https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/petitions/hoa/e-petitions
Link (current open e-petitions): https://haepetitions.parliament.tas.gov.au/haepet
Link (main e-petitions portal): https://haepetitions.parliament.tas.gov.au/

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Platform: ACT Legislative Assembly e-petitions
Must be an ACT resident or citizen
Needs a Member to sponsor
Open for 1 week to 6 months
Link (current e-petitions): https://epetitions.parliament.act.gov.au/search/current
Link (create an e-petition): https://epetitions.parliament.act.gov.au/create
Link (information and guidelines): https://epetitions.parliament.act.gov.au/e-petitions-information-and-guidelines.pdf

NORTHERN TERRITORY
Platform: NT Legislative Assembly accepts e-petitions
Must be presented by a Member
Link (how to lodge a petition): https://parliament.nt.gov.au/about/how-to-lodge-a-petition
Link (petitions and responses): https://parliament.nt.gov.au/business/petitions-and-responses

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
No e-petition system. Only paper petitions are accepted. Signatures and addresses must be collected by hand.

KEY DIFFERENCES
- Eligibility to start or sign (resident only vs open)
- Minimum signatures or supporters required to publish (varies from 1 to 10)
- Duration the petition stays open (usually 1 week to 6 months)
- Whether a Member must sponsor or present the petition
- Whether the petition is automatically referred to a committee or minister

South Australia is the only jurisdiction that still requires a fully manual paper process. All others have had e-petition systems for several years.