The Commission has functions under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 and the Human Rights Act 2019.
Anti-Discrimination Act functions (section 235)
The commission has the following functions—
(a) to inquire into complaints and, where possible, to effect conciliation;
(b) to carry out investigations relating to contraventions of the Act;
(c)to examine Acts and, when requested by the Minister, proposed Acts, to determine whether they are, or would be, inconsistent with the purposes of the Act, and to report to the Minister the results of the examination;
(d) to undertake research and educational programs to promote the purposes of the Act, and to coordinate programs undertaken by other people or authorities on behalf of the State;
(e) to consult with various organisations to ascertain means of improving services and conditions affecting groups that are subjected to contraventions of the Act;
(f) when requested by the Minister, to research and develop additional grounds of discrimination and to make recommendations for the inclusion of such grounds in the Act;
(g) such functions as are conferred on the commission under another Act;
(h) such functions as are conferred on the commission under an arrangement with the Commonwealth under part 3;
(i) to promote an understanding and acceptance, and the public discussion, of human rights in Queensland;
(j) if the commission considers it appropriate to do so—to intervene in a proceeding that involves human rights issues with the leave of the court hearing the proceeding and subject to any conditions imposed by the court;
(k) such other functions as the Minister determines;
(l) to take any action incidental or conducive to the discharge of the above functions.
Human Rights Act functions (section 61)
The commission has the following functions under this Act—
(a) to deal with human rights complaints under this part;
(b) if asked by the Attorney-General, to review the effect of Acts, statutory instruments and the common law on human rights and give the Attorney-General a written report about the outcome of the review;
(c) to review public entities’ policies, programs, procedures, practices and services in relation to their compatibility with human rights;
(d) to promote an understanding and acceptance, and the public discussion, of human rights and this Act in Queensland;
(e) to make information about human rights available to the community;
(f) to provide education about human rights and this Act;
(g) to assist the Attorney-General in reviews of this Act under sections 95 and 96;
(h) to advise the Attorney-General about matters relevant to the operation of this Act;
(i) another function conferred on the commission under this Act or another Act.