New protections end genetic discrimination in life insurance
New laws stop life insurers from using genetic test results to discriminate, helping people protect their health without fear of unfair treatment.
Summary
- New amendment to the Disability Discrimination Act will stop life insurers from charging more, refusing cover or treating people unfairly based on genetic test results.
- The changes remove barriers to genetic testing and strengthen protections against disability discrimination.
- The Commission welcomes the reform and will continue pushing for fair treatment across all insurance types.
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the passage of new legal provisions that protect Australians from genetic discrimination by life insurers, ensuring people are no longer penalised for seeking genetic testing that could protect their health.
The reforms prohibit life insurers from using certain genetic test results to charge higher premiums, impose unfair conditions, or refuse cover. This removes a powerful disincentive to genetic testing and strengthens protections against discrimination afforded under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
The changes were legislated today through the Treasury Laws Amendment (Genetic Testing Protections in Life Insurance and Other Measures) Bill 2025.
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kayess said:
‘These historic reforms represent a major step forward for equality, dignity and public health.
‘They recognise a simple but vital principle: no one should be forced to choose between protecting their health and protecting their financial future.
‘People should be able to seek genetic testing without fear that the results will be used against them.’
The law responds to years of community advocacy and research showing that fear of insurance discrimination was deterring individuals and families from undertaking preventive and diagnostic genetic testing.
‘Genetic discrimination is a form of disability discrimination,’ Commissioner Kayess said.
‘By embedding these protections in law, people who experience genetic discrimination by insurers now have clear legal rights and pathways for redress under the DDA.’
Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay said:
‘These reforms strengthen trust in both the health and insurance systems. They promote fairness, consistency and confidence and provide clearer legal certainty for both consumers and insurers.
‘The changes support early detection and prevention and send a clear message that discrimination has no place in access to essential financial services.
‘We hope this will give people greater confidence to pursue genetic testing where it may benefit their health, knowing that sensitive health information will not be used unfairly. Over time, that confidence can translate into better health outcomes and stronger public trust.’
These historic reforms represent a major step forward for equality, dignity and public health. People should be able to seek genetic testing without fear that the results will be used against them.
While welcoming the changes, Commissioner Kayess noted the protections apply specifically to genetic testing in life insurance, and that broader review of insurance practices remains necessary.
‘We will continue to work with government, regulators and the insurance industry to support effective implementation of the reforms and to advance fair, inclusive insurance systems for all Australians,’ she said.
Media contact
Email: media@humanrights.gov.au or phone: 0457 281 897