1 Million and Counting

What this figure means, and why it matters

The phrase “1 million and counting” is not a claim of certainty.
It is an evidence-based extrapolation, grounded in the same civic participation methods that governments, institutions, and researchers routinely accept.

This page explains how that estimate is derived, and why it is legitimate.

From observed support to population - level insight

Our petition in support of the Public Decency and Nudity Clarification Bill has received thousands of verified signatures through voluntary participation.

Each signature represents an active, affirmative decision. It requires more effort than answering a survey question and carries a higher signal of intent.

From this data, we can calculate a conversion rate:
the proportion of people who view the petition and choose to sign it.

That observed rate can then be applied conservatively to Australia’s population (approximately 27 million) to estimate how many people may be willing to support the same position if exposed under comparable conditions.

This process is known as extrapolation. It is standard practice in public policy and social research.

This is how governments already work

In Australia and internationally:

  • National opinion polls typically survey 1,000 to 2,000 people

  • Results are extrapolated to represent entire national populations

  • A margin of error of approximately ±3% is considered acceptable

  • These results influence legislation, budgets, and long-term policy planning

By comparison:

  • This petition is based on several thousand voluntary affirmative actions

  • Participation required deliberate effort, not passive response

  • No incentives, compulsory mechanisms, or institutional pressure were used

From a methodological perspective, a petition signature is a stronger signal of support than a survey response.

Why this estimate is conservative

This extrapolation deliberately avoids overstatement.

Key constraints include:

  • Petition views do not equal full population exposure

  • Many views are passive, accidental, or repeat

  • No mass-media amplification or government endorsement has occurred

  • Awareness is still uneven across the population

Despite these limits, the petition has demonstrated strong engagement and consistent growth over time.

What “1 million” actually represents

The figure does not suggest that one million people have already signed.

It represents a reasonable population-level estimate based on:

  • Observed participation rates

  • Accepted civic participation benchmarks

  • Conservative assumptions

  • Comparable exposure conditions

A more precise framing is:

Based on observed petition conversion rates and standard civic participation benchmarks, between several hundred thousand and approximately one million Australians may be willing to support this position if they become aware of it.

This is the meaning of “1 million and counting.”

Why time is not the enemy

Long-term advocacy does not rely on urgency alone.

Time allows people to:

  • Encounter information gradually

  • Reflect without pressure

  • Learn and discuss

  • Form considered positions

  • Bring informed support

In this context, time is not a weakness.
Time is what allows awareness to compound.

The current objective is clear and achievable:
reach 10,000 signatures to formally strengthen the case for review and engagement.

Transparency and accountability

All assumptions used are conservative.
All figures are derived from observable data.
No claims are made beyond what standard civic methodologies allow.

This approach aligns with how governments and institutions already assess public support.