Discrimination
Media and commentary related to our work to strengthen and modernise anti-discrimination laws, to protect human rights and ensure fair access to services, education, work and culture.
-
Same-sex marriage postal vote plan: Experts identify potential bias and legal issues
‘Supporters of same-sex marriage are still considering whether to go ahead with a High Court challenge to the legality of a postal vote. Their legal gurus are forming a view on whether the Government’s move to get the Australian Bureau of Statistics to conduct the poll, rather than the Electoral Commission, still presents major legal…
-
Same-Sex Marriage postal vote challenge in High Court
‘The first High Court challenge to the postal vote on same-sex marriage has been launched in a bid to prevent ballot papers being mailed to Australians next month, arguing Malcolm Turnbull’s new plan breaches the constitution…’
-
Marriage equality postal vote to be challenged in High Court
Equality advocates will challenge a marriage equality postal vote in the High Court if the Government goes ahead with the idea. Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays has received legal advice from leading QC, Ron Merkel, which gives it confidence it can win a High Court challenge. Jonathon Hunyor, CEO of the Public Interest…
-
A Marriage Equality Postal Plebiscite Would Likely Be Found Invalid By The High Court, Lawyers Claim
‘An unlegislated postal plebiscite on marriage equality would likely be found invalid by the High Court, according to legal advice seen by BuzzFeed News…’
-
Postal vote on same-sex marriage would be invalid without legislation: lawyers
‘A postal vote on same-sex marriage would likely be invalid without legislation and struck down in the High Court, according to legal advice obtained by marriage equality advocates…’
-
Travel insurance providers remove mental health illness exclusions
‘Some of Australia’s largest insurance providers have revised travel insurance policies that have long contained blanket exclusions for mental health conditions. ‘Cover-More Australia and QBE Insurance have recently removed exclusions in their policies that deny cover to people who cancel or change travel plans due to a mental illness that develops after they buy a policy.’
-
Cover-More: breakthrough in battle to end mental illness travel insurance discrimination
PIAC has welcomed changes to Cover-More Australia’s international travel insurance cover which signal a big step forward in the battle to get insurance companies to end systemic discrimination against people with mental health conditions. Many travel insurance policies have blanket exclusions for mental health conditions, which leaves people without cover if they have to cancel…
-
Sydney mum shows who wears the pants, winning school uniform battle with her daughter’s school
‘A SYDNEY mother has won a battle to get her school to provide pants for girls, as the education minister has called it “bloody-ridiculous” not to have the gender-neutral option in uniforms. ‘However Rob Stokes stopped short of saying he would change the state’s uniform policy so it is mandatory for a unisex option to…
-
Ending school uniform discrimination
Following a discrimination claim against John Palmer Public School, a Sydney mum, Melissa Mibus, is calling on the NSW Department of Education to require all public schools to provide pants and shorts options for girls as part of their official school uniform. PIAC acted for Mibus, who challenged John Palmer Public School’s failure to offer…
-
‘If I could say one thing’ – mental health and insurance
Nearly half of us will experience a mental illness at some point in our life. Despite the prevalence of these conditions, discrimination against people with mental illness remains widespread, particularly when it comes to insurance. For years we have worked with beyondblue Mental Health Australia and others to call on insurers to improve their policies…