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Ch17 Documents / PETITIONS / Petitions in the House of Representatives / Privilege attaching to petitions



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House of Representatives                                Ch 17                                                 p 620

 

Documents / PETITIONS / Petitions in the House of Representatives

 

Privilege attaching to petitions

Under the Parliamentary Privileges Act the presentation or submission of a document (including a petition) to the House, and the preparation of such a document, is absolutely privileged. 1

May notes that petitioners are considered as under the protection of Parliament and that obstruction of or interference with such persons, or conduct calculated to deter them from preferring or prosecuting petitions, may be treated as a breach of privilege. 2 May gives as an instance of this kind of offence bringing an action against petitioners for a libel alleged to be contained in a petition presented by them to the House. 3



Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987 , s. 16.



But see also Senate Committee of Privileges, The circulation of petitions , PP 46 (1988).



May , 23d edn, p. 152.