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.
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2SER: NSW religious vilification bill under scrutiny
NSW Attorney General Michael Daley introduced the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Vilification) Bill 2023 to NSW Parliament last month. The Bill would prohibit vilification on the basis of religious belief or affiliation or religious activity. In a media release, PIAC expressed its concern the outlined reforms are too broad and inconsistent with existing laws. Alastair Lawrie,…
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Critics pan proposed changes to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act
… The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has pointed out inconsistencies in the bill in comparison to the existing Crimes Act 1900 – s93Z specifically – and the then-Labor Opposition’s 2021 bill to prohibit religious vilification, introduced by Shadow Attorney General Paul Lynch. While PIAC acknowledges the importance of protecting people of minority faiths in…
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Rising religious vilification draws move to toughen law
… The Public Interest Advocacy Centre also warned the scope of the changes was broader than most other Australian jurisdictions, including Victoria and Queensland. The amendments did not properly define a religious belief, affiliation and activity and opened a loophole for unlawful activities to be protected on religious grounds, it said.
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No time for tinkering: PIAC calls for rewrite of NSW discrimination law as Law Reform Commission review announced
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) welcomes today’s announcement in Question Time that NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley has asked the NSW Law Reform Commission to review the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. ‘The Anti-Discrimination Act is failing in its most basic duty – to adequately protect people against discrimination as they go about their daily lives,’ PIAC…
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NSW religious vilification reforms ‘too broad and need further amendment’
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre acknowledges the need to protect people of minority faiths in NSW against vilification but believes the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Vilification) Bill 2023, introduced this morning by Attorney General Michael Daley, is too broad. ‘The scope of these proposed reforms is broader than most other Australian jurisdictions, including Victoria and Queensland,’…
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Anguish gives way to relief as Queensland allows trans people to change birth certificates
… Western Australia is also committed to joining every state and territory in Australia – bar one – by reforming its laws that require people undergo surgery before changing the sex on their birth certificate. New South Wales is the only other state or territory in Australia where the requirement still exists. Sexual reassignment surgery…
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ABC 7:30: The fallout from the AFL’s investigation into alleged racism at Hawthorn Football Club
PIAC CEO Jonathon Hunyor gives insight on the Human Rights Commission complaints process.
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Australia urged to strengthen response on audio description
Disability advocates are urging the Australian Government to commit to changing the law to require audio description be provided on Australian television, in line with a UN Committee recommendation. The Government commits to providing ongoing support to increase audio-described content on the ABC and SBS, and intends to work with commercial free-to-air broadcasters and subscription…
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Recent changes to federal discrimination powers and complaint processes
In December 2022, changes were made to how the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) can handle complaints and tackle discrimination, and to how discrimination claims can be run in the federal courts. The changes to the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (AHRC Act) implement recommendations of the Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry…
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Australian Government urged to strengthen response on audio description
Disability advocates are urging the Australian Government to commit to changing the law to require audio description be provided on Australian television, in line with a UN Committee recommendation. Audio description gives verbal narration of important visual elements such as scenes, settings, actions, costumes and on-screen text. Following a complaint from disability rights advocate Lauren…