Statement from the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall on anti-discrimination law milestone

Today marks the date that legislation to significantly improve protections for vulnerable Queenslanders from discrimination was due to come into effect.

On Friday 14 March this year, the Attorney-General announced a pause to implementation of legislated changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 to allow for further consultation. Subsequently, on 30 April this year, amendments were made to delay the legislated changes. These important reforms will therefore only happen if and when the Government fixes a date of commencement by proclamation.

To date the Attorney-General has not disclosed any details of the further consultation that the Government said was an election commitment.

Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 has not been significantly improved since its introduction over 30 years ago and our methods of protection are lagging behind the Commonwealth and other state jurisdictions.

Without the reforms, the anti-discrimination framework in Queensland will continue to rely on victims of discrimination to carry the burden of eradicating sexual harassment and other objectionable behaviour in the workplace. People with disability will remain unprotected from serious vilification.

The changes were informed by extensive consultation and parliamentary inquiries and are designed to modernise Queensland’s discrimination laws through:

Strengthening obligations on business, government and organisations to prevent discrimination and harassment
Protecting more people from discrimination including:
- People experiencing homelessness
- Victim-survivors of domestic and family violence

I call on the Attorney-General to provide certainty to business and stakeholders by progressing consultation and setting a date for commencement as soon as possible.

The Queensland Human Rights Commission stands ready to collaborate with the Attorney-General to progress these important reforms.

Background

Previous statements from the Queensland Human Rights Commission on this matter can be found here.

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