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Information for people making complaints

Complaint Information Service

The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) has three areas of complaints we can investigate and resolve. They are:

Claims of unlawful discrimination

This includes complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying based on a person’s:

  • sex, including pregnancy, marital or relationship status (including same-sex de facto couples), breastfeeding, family responsibilities, sexual harassment, gender identity, intersex status and sexual orientation; as well as sex based harassment and hostile workplace (the latter two in employment only)
  • disability, including people with disabilities who have a carer or who uses a disability aid or assistance animal; as well 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.

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.

For more information, please refer to the unlawful discrimination info sheet. 

Claims of other grounds of discrimination in employment

The  Commission can also investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying based on a person’s criminal record, trade union activity, political opinion, religion or social origin. These grounds only apply in the area of employment.

For more information, please refer to the Human rights and ILO info sheet. 

Claims of human rights breaches

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

This can includes human rights provided in the following: 

  • International Convention on Civil and Political Rights
  • Convention on the Rights of the Child
  • Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

For more information, please refer to the Human rights and ILO info sheet.