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Commonwealth

Consolidation of Commonwealth Anti-Discrimination Laws

The Commonwealth Government has announced that it will review federal anti-discrimination legislation to harmonise and consolidate current laws into a single Commonwealth Act. Currently, Commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation is located in four separate Acts: the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, and the Age Discrimination Act 2004.

The review of existing anti-discrimination laws will focus on removing unnecessary regulatory overlap, addressing inconsistencies across existing Acts and making the system more user-friendly in order to reduce compliance costs for individuals and business. The Government will also consider further the complaints handling processes and the related role and functions of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Australian Human Rights Commission

The Australian Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory organisation that works to protect and promote the human rights of all people in Australia. We were established by the Australian Government in 1986.

We are responsible for administering the following federal laws:

• Age Discrimination Act 2004
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
• Sex Discrimination Act 1984
• Racial Discrimination Act 1975

We also have specific responsibilities under the Native Title Act 1993 (performed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner) and the Fair Work Act 2009 (performed by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner).

For more information visit the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

Our President/Commissioners

The Commission is a collegiate body made up of a President and five Commissioners. The five positions are currently held by four people. These include:

• The Hon. Catherine Branson QC - President and Human Rights Commissioner
• Graeme Innes AM - Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Race Discrimination Commissioner
• Elizabeth Broderick - Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination
• Mick Gooda - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

What we do

Our work covers four key areas:

1. providing education and raising public awareness about human rights
2. handling complaints of discrimination and breaches of human rights
3. researching human rights issues and contributing to policy developments
4. legal advocacy on human rights issues.

Complaints

The Commission can investigate complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying based on a person’s:

• sex, including pregnancy, marital status, family responsibilities and sexual harassment
• disability, including temporary and permanent disabilities; physical, intellectual, sensory, psychiatric disabilities, diseases or illnesses; medical conditions; work related injuries; past, present and future disabilities; and association with a person with a disability
• race, including colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, immigrant status and racial hatred
• age, covering young people and older people
• sexual preference, criminal record, trade union activity, political opinion, religion or social origin (in employment only)

It is against the law to be discriminated against in many areas of public life, including employment, education, the provision of goods, services and facilities, accommodation, sport and the administration of Commonwealth laws and services.

The Commission can also investigate complaints about alleged breaches of human rights against the Commonwealth and its agencies.

If you have a complaint we can look into it. We will talk to the people involved and help you work out a solution.

Our complaint handling service is free of charge, informal and completely impartial.

For more information visit the Complaints Information page on the Commission's website.

Media Centre

For the latest Commission media releases, opinion pieces, speeches, publications, podcasts, media kits and resources or to subscribe to our electronic mailing lists visit the Media Centre on the Commission's website.

Contact us

Level 8, Piccadilly Tower
133 Castlereagh Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000

GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001

Telephone: (02) 9284 9600
Complaints Infoline: 1300 656 419
General enquiries and publications: 1300 369 711
TTY: 1800 620 241
Fax: (02) 9284 9611
SMS for info pack or complaint form: 0488 744 487 (0488 RIGHTS)