Start or sign a petition

Step 1.Consideration

As the lead petitioner, you need to clarify what you are requesting of Council. This is also for the benefit of people who take notice of your petition and consider signing it.

Requests should:

• refer to a matter which is within the power of Council to address
• not be defamatory, indecent, abusive or objectionable in language or substance
• the language used must be moderate
• the terms of the petition must not be illegal or promote illegal acts.

You cannot remain anonymous as lead petitioner.

We are unlikely to accept a new petition if there is an existing one open on the same matter. If the subject of a new petition is the same as a petition already considered by Council in the previous 6 months and has not been resolved, then your new petition will be grouped with the original petition for consideration.

Step 2.Submit

To start a petition online, you need to submit it via our online portal.

Online petitions portal

Once there, select Submit a petition. You will then be asked to enter:

• petition title (make this as clear and to the point as you can)
• any background information for us to consider
• your requested action from Council (this is what people who sign your petition will be reading)
• closing date
• your contact details.

Then select Submit petition.

1. You will then be asked to Continue to verification
2. Then to select Send verification code.
3. You will be emailed a verification code.
4. Enter the verification code and select Verify.

Step 3.Review

We check your petition for appropriate language and that your contact details are solid before publishing it as open on our petitions portal. This is typically within 5 working days.

Once we complete our review, we will reply to you, the lead petitioner, by email confirming the outcome of the submission.

Step 4.Outcome

There are 2 outcomes from our review process:

1. Approval: public link to view the petition will be included in the email together with details of any necessary changes. You can then access and sign your petition at this time.
2. Not approved: reasons for denying your petition request will be provided via email.

We do not promote approved petitions on social media or by any other means. It is the responsibility of the lead petitioner to get the word out.

Step 5.Closing

When a petition closes, we will add the petition to the agenda of the next Council meeting.

Occasionally, conflicts with timing will prevent the petition from being raised at the next meeting. In that case, it will be part of the subsequent meeting.

We will notify the lead petitioner via email of the date the petition will be tabled. At the meeting, your petition will be acknowledged and may be referred to a relevant director for action.

As there will be limited discussion on your petition, people who have signed it are not required to attend the meeting.

Step 6.Decision

Our teams will investigate your petition and prepare a recommendation for Council. This is usually completed within 4 weeks.

A report on your petition will be included in the meeting agenda, outlining:

• actions taken
• recommending a course of action.

The report will include your petition request and confirm the number of valid signatures.

Step 7.Notice

After the meeting, we provide email notice to the lead petitioner and update the portal with the outcome.

Step 1.Locating

Our online petition portal lists all open petitions available to sign.

Online petitions portal

Select the title of the petition to expand for background information and the requested action.

Read through both sections carefully before signing.

Step 2.Signing

To sign, select Sign this petition. You will be asked to enter your:

• full name
• email
• street address
• suburb
• postcode

1. You will then be asked to Continue to verification
2. Then to select Send verification code.
3. You will be emailed a verification code.
4. Enter the verification code and select Verify.

Petitions cannot be signed anonymously. However, we do not publicly display the names or contact details of people who sign petitions.

We may disallow a signature for several reasons, including:

• missing or incomplete information, such as a name, address or other required details
• duplicate signatures (a person may only sign a petition once)
• false or misleading information.

Step 3.Closing

When a petition closes, we will add the petition to the agenda of the next Council meeting.

Occasionally, conflicts with timing will prevent the petition from being raised at the next meeting. In that case, it will be part of the subsequent meeting.

At the meeting, the petition you signed will be acknowledged and referred to the relevant director for action.

As there will be limited discussion on your petition, people who have signed it are not required to attend the meeting.

Step 4.Decision

Our teams will investigate your petition and prepare a recommendation for Council. This is usually completed within 4 weeks.

A report on the petition will be included in the meeting agenda, outlining:

• actions taken
• recommending a course of action.

The report will include the petition request and confirm the number of valid signatures.

Step 5.Notice

After the meeting, we provide email notice to the lead petitioner and update the portal with the outcome.

Step 1.Consideration

As the lead petitioner, you need to clarify what you are requesting of Council. This is also for the benefit of people who take notice of your petition and consider signing it.

Requests should:

• refer to a matter which is within the power of Council to address
• not be defamatory, indecent, abusive or objectionable in language or substance
• the language used must be moderate
• the terms of the petition must not be illegal or promote illegal acts.

You cannot remain anonymous as lead petitioner.

We are unlikely to accept a new petition if there is an existing one open on the same matter. If the subject of a new petition is the same as a petition already considered by Council in the previous 6 months and has not been resolved, then your new petition will be grouped with the original petition for consideration.

Step 2.Preparation

The start of petition should read 'We the undersigned petition or request Banyule Council to'.

To guide you and anyone considering signing your petition, we have prepared a template for you to complete and use for each page of signatures captured for the petition.

Download petition template(DOCX, 146KB)

For paper-based petitions:

• each page must include the requested action and petition closing date at the top
• be in English or accompanied by a certified translation
• language must be in a legible and permanent form of writing, typing or printing
• each person who signs the petition must include their name and address
• signatures must not be copied, pasted or transferred on to the petition
• signatures must not be placed on a blank page or the reverse of a sheet
• each signature must be made by the person signing.

Step 3.Submitting

You, the lead petitioner, can submit a paper-based petition:

• in person at a Council Service Centre.
• by post to: Banyule Council, PO Box 94, Greensborough VIC 3088.
• by email to: council.meetings@banyule.vic.gov.au

Once a paper-based petition has been submitted, it is published on our online platform for information purposes only.

Paper-based petitions cannot be signed through our online petition platform.

Step 4.Review

We check your petition for appropriate language and that your contact details are solid. This is typically within 5 working days.

Once we complete our review, we will reply to you, the lead petitioner, by email confirming the outcome of the submission.

Step 5.Outcome

There are 2 outcomes from our review process:

1. Approval: public link to view the petition will be included in the email together with details of any necessary changes.
2. Not approved: reasons for denying your petition request will be provided via email.

We do not promote approved petitions on social media or by any other means. It is the responsibility of the lead petitioner to get the word out.

Step 6.Closing

When a petition closes, we will add the petition to the agenda of the next Council meeting.

Occasionally, conflicts with timing will prevent the petition from being raised at the next meeting. In that case, it will be part of the subsequent meeting.

We will notify the lead petitioner via email of the date the petition will be tabled. At the meeting, your petition will be acknowledged and may be referred to a relevant director for action.

As there will be limited discussion on your petition, people who have signed it are not required to attend the meeting.

Step 7.Decision

Our teams will investigate your petition and prepare a recommendation for Council. This is usually completed within 4 weeks.

A report on your petition will be included in the meeting agenda, outlining:

• actions taken
• recommending a course of action.

The report will include your petition request and confirm the number of valid signatures.

Step 8.Notice

After the meeting, we provide email notice to the lead petitioner and update the portal with the outcome.