Lodge your complaint online
Before you make a complaint:
Before you complain, be aware that we will not act for you.
If your complaint is accepted, we will not take sides, but we will help you resolve the complaint.
Your complaint must:
- be about something we are able to deal with
- be about something that happened to you
- be about something that happened in the last 12 months.
Note: In some circumstances, it may be possible to accept a complaint more than 12 months old, or for you to complain of behalf of another person. Contact our enquiry line for more information.
When writing your complaint be sure to:
- include enough information for us to assess whether we can deal with it
- include the name and contact details of the person or organisation you are complaining about.
Be aware that your complaint, including the address you give us for the delivery of mail, will be given to the person or organisation you are complaining about. If you want to keep your home address private, you can use an email address, a PO Box, or the address of an organisation, lawyer, or other reliable person.
- Find out more about what complaints we can deal with, our role, or what happens with your complaint
- Download a complaint form (MS Word Document, 98.9 KB) to fill out and return to us by email or post
- Proceed to online complaint form
What is your complaint about?
Discrimination
Not all treatment which seems unfair is against the law. The discrimination must have happened because of your:
- age
- sex
- race
- religion
- sexuality
- gender identity
- impairment
- family responsibilities
- breastfeeding
- parental status
- relationship status
- pregnancy
- political belief
- trade union activity
- lawful sexual activity
- association with someone with the above characteristics
If the discrimination is not because of one of these grounds, it is not covered by the Anti-Discrimination Act, and it is not something we are able to deal with.
If the discrimination is because of one of these grounds, it must also have happened in one of the following areas of public life to be covered by the Act:
- work
- education
- goods and services
- accommodation
- superannuation and insurance
- disposition of land
- club membership and affairs
- administration of state laws and programs
- local government, between members
If your discrimination complaint is also about one of these areas, proceed to the form to lodge your complaint.
If your discrimination complaint isn’t related to your treatment in one of these areas, it is not something we are able to deal with.
Sexual harassment
Under Queensland law, sexual harassment is unlawful anywhere it happens. You can make a complaint to us.
Human rights
If you believe that your human rights have not been given proper consideration by a public entity, you must complain directly to the agency before you can make a complaint to us.
The Human Rights Act only applies to public entities. Public entities include:
- state government departments and agencies
- public service employees
- Queensland Police Service and other emergency services
- State Government Ministers
- public schools
- public health services, including hospitals
- local governments, councillors, and council employees
- organisations providing services of a public nature.
The following entities are NOT covered by the Human Rights Act:
- federal government departments and agencies
- private businesses (unless they are providing services on behalf of the state – for example, a public housing service)
- decisions by courts and judges.
Under Queensland law, specific human rights are protected.
The rights protected by law are:
- Recognition and equality before the law
- Right to life
- Protection from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
- Freedom from forced work
- Freedom of movement
- Freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief
- Freedom of expression
- Peaceful assembly and freedom of association
- Taking part in public life
- Property rights
- Privacy and reputation
- Protection of families and children
- Cultural rights – generally
- Cultural rights – Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Liberty and security of person
- Humane treatment when deprived of liberty
- Fair hearing
- Rights in criminal proceedings
- Rights of children in the criminal process
- Right not to be tried or punished more than once
- Retrospective criminal laws
- Right to education
- Right to health services
If your complaint involves one or more of these rights, and is about a public entity, it may be covered by the Human Rights Act and we can deal with it – however, you must make a complaint to the public entity first. The agency has 45 business days to provide a response. You should make a genuine effort to resolve your complaint with the agency before you lodge a complaint with us.
Vilification
For a matter to be considered vilification under Queensland law, it has to:
- have happened in public
- be capable of inciting hatred, contempt or severe ridicule
- of someone on the grounds of their race, religion, sexuality or gender identity.
If you believe someone has vilified you, but on other grounds – for example, your sex or your disability – you can’t lodge a vilification complaint with us, but you may be able to make a discrimination complaint.
