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: the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination and Transphobia.
17 May is IDAHOBIT, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination and Transphobia. The day is widely recognised in Australia as an opportunity to draw attention to the discrimination that many LGBTQI+ people still face. Alastair Lawrie, PIAC’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, spoke to 2SER Breakfast about the history of IDAHOBIT and why…
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2SER: An appropriate cost model for Commonwealth discrimination cases
The Federal Government is looking at changing unfair laws that discourage people from taking a discrimination or sexual harassment complaint to court. Their review is in response to the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment and its Respect@Work report, which revealed that people aren’t taking those complaints to court because of the financial risk of having…
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We’ve failed the LGBTQIA+ class of 2023
Opinion piece from PIAC Director of Policy and Advocacy Alastair Lawrie LAST week, the Australian Law Reform Commission was meant to hand the Attorney-General its final report into religious schools and the exceptions which allow them to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ students and teachers. But late on the day before, the deadline was pushed back to…
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Delay to ALRC religious schools inquiry leaves LGBTQ students and teachers exposed to discrimination
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is seriously concerned about an 8-month delay on the outcome of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) inquiry into the legal exceptions that allow religious schools to discriminate against LGBTQ students and teachers. The ALRC’s final report was due to be handed to Commonwealth Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus today (21…
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Outcome of inquiry allowing religious schools to hire based on faith pushed back by eight months
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) says it is “seriously concerned” about an eight-month delay on the outcome of an inquiry into legal exceptions allowing religious schools to discriminate against LGBTQ+ students and teachers. The Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) final report was due to be handed to attorney general Mark Dreyfus today, but was…
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Joint statement: Time for equal access in discrimination claims
We all deserve to be safe at work and free from discrimination and sexual harassment. While sexual harassment is pervasive across all industries and all employment levels in Australia, it is not inevitable. The Australian Government has the power to prevent discrimination and sexual harassment by adopting an equal access costs model to ensure that…
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‘Vile’ Mark Latham tweet could be grounds for vilification complaint under NSW law, experts say
Gay men in New South Wales could have grounds to bring a complaint of homosexual vilification against Mark Latham over a tweet that saw him labeled a bigot by the premier and brought independent MP Alex Greenwich to tears, legal experts say. … The Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s policy director, Alastair Lawrie, believed a complaint…
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Building movements for social justice with Dr Kimahli Powell
Dr Kimahli Powell works to protect LGBTQI+ people facing state-sponsored persecution because of their sexual orientation, sex characteristics or gender identity. As CEO of the international NGO Rainbow Railroad, an organisation that helps LGBTQI+ people find safety through emergency relocation and other support, Kimahli gives a voice to the experiences of refugees displaced by homophobia…
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2SER: ‘Right to discriminate’ in religious educational institutions
The Federal Government has asked the Australian Law Reform Commission to review the exemptions to discrimination law given to religious schools under Commonwealth laws. The exceptions mean that discrimination on certain grounds by religious schools is not unlawful under Federal law where it is ‘in good faith’ and ‘in order to avoid injury to the…
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Sydney may be hosting WorldPride but the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act is a source of shame
Forty years ago this month the then New South Wales premier, Neville Wran, introduced amendments to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of homosexuality. This was groundbreaking, nation-leading law reform. It preceded decriminalisation of homosexuality by 18 months, making it unlawful to discriminate against gay men in employment, housing and public…