Fact Sheet: Respect@Work – Changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act (December 2022)

Friday 3 February, 2023

On 12 December 2022, the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Act 2022 (Cth) (the Act) came into effect. The Act makes important amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (the SDA) and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (the AHRCA). These changes were recommended by the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) following its inquiry Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces.

Fact Sheet: Respect@Work - Changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986

Thursday 16 September, 2021

On 11 September 2021 the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act 2021 (Cth) (the Act) came into effect. The Act makes important amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (the SDA) which were recommended by the Australian Human Rights Commission in the Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces.

Translations: Fact sheet - Complaints under the Racial Discrimination Act

Thursday 30 April, 2020

Albanian:

Make an enquiry

Tuesday 11 February, 2020

Operating hours

Enquiries can be made by phone on 1300 656 419 or in writing. In person visits are no longer accepted.

Our Information Service phone lines are open Monday - Friday between the hours of 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM AEST/AEDT.

Conciliation – how it works

Tuesday 7 May, 2019

Many complaints that the Australian Human Rights Commission receives are resolved through conciliation. Conciliation is an informal, flexible approach to resolving complaints – matters can be settled by an exchange of letters, a telephone negotiation between the Commission and the people involved, a telephone conciliation conference or a face to face conciliation conference. We will discuss with you the best way to try and resolve the complaint and what sort of outcome you are seeking.

The complaint process for complaints about sex, race, disability and age discrimination

Tuesday 29 January, 2019

View the complaint process to the Australian Human Rights Commission for complaints about sex, race, disability and age discrimination.

Information for advocates and lawyers participating in conciliation

Tuesday 29 January, 2019

The Commission values the positive role that advocates and lawyers can play in conciliation. Advocates and lawyers can provide important support to parties, assist parties understand and articulate how they see the law applies to a complaint and advise parties on possible options to resolve the complaint.

Racial Discrimination Complaints

There has been considerable public interest in the Commission’s complaint handling processes under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986. There has been particular interest In the Commission’s handling of complaints under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.

In relation to the recent QUT case, it is a matter of public record that the Commission terminated this matter in August 2015. The Commission has had no role in the subsequent law suit in the Federal Circuit Court.

Preparing for Conciliation

Wednesday 15 April, 2015

Complaint information in Auslan

Wednesday 12 November, 2014

The Australian Human Rights Commission is an independent third party which investigates complaints about discrimination and breaches of human rights.

This presentation in Auslan explains what you can complain about and how the complaint process works.

Complaint Information Service