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Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012SpeechMission Australia National Management Team Meeting
Speaking notes for a presentation to the Mission Australia National Management Team Meeting in Sydney on 22 August 2001 by Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM, Human Rights Commissioner -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Police Checks
An employer may be obliged to conduct a police check where there is a legal requirement that an employee or job applicant should not have a certain criminal record. However, an employer should only ask job applicants and employees to disclose criminal record information if certain criminal convictions or offences are relevant to the inherent requirements of the job. Asking an applicant or… -
6 February 2024Conciliation register
2022-10-12
The complainant is gay. She was employed for three months with the respondent sports governing body. The complainant alleged that a colleague made comments about gay women which made her uncomfortable in the workplace including that playing the sport “will make you gay”, that gay women are more likely to have psychological issues and display predatory behaviours and that he would prefer that… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Gay
People who are gay, lesbian or bisexual are protected from discrimination by law. The Sex Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to treat a person less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of their sexual orientation. There are some limited exemptions. Example: It may be discrimination for an employer not to promote an employee to a more senior role because he is gay… -
14 December 2012Book page
Bringing them Home - Chapter 13
Lots of white kids do get taken away, but that's for a reason - not like us. We just got taken away because we was black kids, I suppose - half-caste kids. If they wouldn't like it, they shouldn't do it to Aboriginal families. Confidential evidence 357, South Australia. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageCommission Submission - Amicus Curiae - Jacomb v Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical And Services Union
General Recommendation No 5 Seventh Session, 1988 (Attachment Ten) General Recommendation No 23 Sixteenth Session, 1997 (Attachment Eleven) General Recommendation No 25 Thirtieth Session, 30 January 2004 (Attachment Twelve) -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Hearing Impairment
Hearing impairments can be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. The Act makes it against the law to discriminate against a person because of disability. There are some limited exceptions and exemptions. It is not unlawful to discriminate against an employee on the basis of their disability if the person cannot perform the inherent requirements of a job after reasonable adjustments… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Contact Officer
Learn about the purpose, roles, and responsibilities of a contact officer in the workplace. -
Sex Discrimination
27 February 2017SubmissionViolence against women in Australia (2017)
Violence against women in Australia AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SUBMISSION TO THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 20 January 2017 Download PDF Download Word Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Summary 3 Recommendations 4 Background information 5 Recent developments in Australia 5.1 National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 5.2 Relevant Federal… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Pregnancy
It is against the law to discriminate against a woman because she is pregnant or might become pregnant. Pregnancy discrimination happens when a woman is treated less favourably than another person because she is pregnant or because she may become pregnant. It is also discrimination when there is an unreasonable requirement or practice that is the same for everyone but has an unfair effect on… -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Conciliation
If a complaint of discrimination or harassment is made to the Australian Human Rights Commission, the complaint may be resolved through a process known as ‘conciliation’. Conciliation is an informal, flexible approach to resolving complaints. The Commission tries to help everyone involved in the complaint to understand the issues and find a solution that is acceptable to everyone. We do not… -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Complaints – Internal Complaints Processes
Establishing a process to resolve complaints of discrimination and harassment can improve staff satisfaction and help avoid complaints to external agencies or other legal action. Under federal anti-discrimination laws, if an organisation argues that the organisation should not be held liable for any discrimination or harassment by one of its employees, the organisation will need to… -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Complaints made to the Australian Human Rights Commission
A complaint of discrimination or harassment can be made to the Australian Human Rights Commission about an issue covered by federal anti-discrimination law. Under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act, the Commission can also investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying in employment based on a person’s criminal record, trade union activity, political… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Inherent Requirements
Discrimination in employment because of a person’s age or disability is against the law in many circumstances. However, it may not be unlawful to refuse to employ a person if, because of their age or disability, they are unable to carry out the inherent requirements – or essential duties – of the job. The inherent requirements of a job will vary depending on what the job is. They may include… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Political Opinion
It can be discrimination when a person does not experience equal opportunity in employment because of his or her political opinion. This may include being refused a job, being dismissed from employment, being denied training opportunities or being harassed at work. The Commission may investigate complaints of discrimination in employment based on political opinion and, where appropriate, try… -
Employers16 March 2015Project
Good practice, good business
Free employer resources to promote diversity and prevent workplace discrimination -
Employers19 February 2015Quick Guide
Trade Union Activity
It can be discrimination when a person does not experience equal opportunity in employment because of his or her activity in a trade union. This includes being refused a job or dismissed from a job, being refused a promotion, transfer or other benefit associated with employment, given unfair terms or conditions of employment, being refused training opportunities, being refused flexible work … -
Employers19 February 2015Quick Guide
Transgender
People who are transgender are protected from discrimination by law. The Sex Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to treat a person less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of the person. Example: A shop assistant refused to serve a person who identifies and presents as a… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Laws
The following federal anti-discrimination laws protect people from discrimination and harassment: Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) Federal discrimination laws prohibit discrimination in different areas of… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Lesbian
Lesbians are protected from discrimination by law. The Sex Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to treat a person less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of her sexual orientation. There are some limited exemptions. Same-sex couples are also protected from discrimination under the definition of ‘marital or relationship status’ in the Act. Example: A company policy…