About the Review

What did the Review examine?

The review looked at whether our anti-discrimination law protects and promotes equality and non-discrimination to the greatest extent possible.

Currently, the Anti-Discrimination Act makes unfair discrimination, sexual harassment, vilification, and victimisation unlawful in Queensland.

The Act outlines the characteristics – for example, race, sex, and impairment – that are protected from discrimination; as well as the areas in which discrimination is unlawful - for example, at work or school. It also makes other types of behaviours unlawful, including sexual harassment.

We were asked to look at whether the law:

  • needs improving so it better responds to people who have experienced discrimination
  • should have a role in identifying and eliminating systemic causes of discrimination, sexual harassment, and victimisation
  • should require organisations and workplaces to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment, and victimisation.

You can read more about what the Review was asked to examine in the Terms of Reference.

Although vilification is covered by the Anti-Discrimination Act, the vilification provisions were recently reviewed in a separate inquiry by the Queensland Parliament. Vilification law was therefore excluded from this review.

How was the Review conducted?

The Review gathered evidence through the following key activities:

Icon: A pen and form, a speech bubble, and a hand holding a mobile phone, connected in a circle - white on a blue background Submissions

  • an open submissions process, inviting Queenslanders to share their experiences, views, and ideas on how to improve our discrimination law
  • publishing a discussion paper in November 2021, asking key questions for organisations, business, entities, and people to respond to.

The submissions process was open from August 2021 to March 2022.

Icon: Three people connected in a circle - white on a blue background Consultations

  • conducting targeted consultations with key stakeholders, including groups with whom we are required to consult under our terms of reference
  • holding public consultations in Brisbane and some regional areas
  • holding smaller face-to-face and virtual consultations, to consider particular topics or themes.

Icon: A document with a light bulb next to it - white on a blue background Research

  • conducting research and examining data on a range of topics, including to consider the discrimination laws in other Australian jurisdictions, and international approaches.

How could people participate?

The Review provided a range of opportunities for individuals, organisations, and businesses to contribute their views, experience, expertise, and ideas for change. These included making a submission, responding to our discussion paper, and participating in public consultations, and smaller face-to-face and virtual consultations.

Our Review timeline shows when these opportunities were scheduled. Our submissions and consultation processes have now closed. Thank you to all those who have provided input into the Review.

What happens now?

The final report was due to be provided to the Attorney-General by 30 June 2022. On 30 March the Attorney General granted a request for a four-week extension of time for provision of the final report, to accommodate requests for extensions to the submission deadline from organisations and people affected by COVID and by flooding in southeast Queensland in February.

The final report was provided to the Attorney-General on 29 July 2022.

The report outlines what we did, what we found, and our recommendations for updates to the law.

It is now up to the State Government to decide whether to implement these recommendations.