Bendigo Petition

The Anti-Gold Licence Association was formed by G E Thomson, Dr Jones and Edward Brown at Bendigo on 6 June 1853.

The petitions demands included:

1. To direct that the License Fee be reduced to 10 Shillings a Month.
2. To direct that Monthly or Quarterly Licenses be issued at the option of the applicants.
3. To direct that new arrivals or invalids be allowed on registering their names at the Commissioners Office fifteen clear days residence on the Goldfields before the license be enforced.
4. To afford greater facility to Diggers and others resident on the Goldfields who wish to engage in Agricultural Pursuits for investing their earnings in small allotments of land.
5. To direct that the Penalty of Five Pounds for no possession of License be reduced to One pound.
6. To direct that the sending of an Armed Force to enforce the License Tax be discontinued.

Most of the petition's demands, including the reduction in the licence fee, were rejected.