Commonwealth legislation
Disability Discrimination Act 1992
The Act has as its major objectives to:
- eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities
- promote community acceptance of the principle that people with disabilities have the same fundamental rights as all members of the community, and
- ensure as far as practicable that people with disabilities have the same rights to equality before the law as other people in the community.
- discriminate against a student with a disability on the basis of disability
- harass a student on the basis of disability
- victimise (threaten or treat unfavourably) a student with a disability who has lodged a complaint under anti-discrimination legislation
- discriminate against people because of their association with a student with a disability
- The definition of 'disability' is intentionally broad and includes physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological or learning disabilities. It also covers physical disfigurement and the presence in the body of a disease-causing organism, for example, the HIV virus.
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999
(formerly Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986)
This Act requires employers, including higher education institutions, with more than 100 employees, to promote equal opportunity for women in employment by means of affirmative action. The Commonwealth Government established the Affirmative Action Agency to monitor the implementation of the Act. Employers are required to submit annual progress reports to the Agency.
Racial Discrimination Act 1975
This Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds of race, colour and national or ethnic origin in the areas of employment, the provision of goods and services, and access to public places, facilities, land, housing and accommodation.
Sex Discrimination Act 1984
This Act is designed to promote equality between men and women, and to eliminate discrimination in areas including employment and education, and sexual harassment in the workplace and in educational institutions. It covers sexual harassment, and discrimination on the grounds of sex, marital status and pregnancy. The Act fulfils the obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, ratified by Australia in 1983.
Age Discrimination Act 2004
This Act helps to ensure that people are not treated less favourably because of their age.
South Australian legislation
Equal Opportunity Act 1984 - amended
This Act exists to promote equality of opportunity and to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex, sexuality, marital status, pregnancy, race, physical or intellectual impairment or age in areas including employment, education and the provision of goods and services.
Racial Vilification Act 1996
An Act to prohibit certain conduct involving vilification of people on the ground of race; to amend the Wrongs Act 1936 to provide redress for the victims of racial vilification.
