Australian Discrimination Act

Information on The Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992 which aims to promote equal opportunity and access for people with disabilities in Australia.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, a number of countries have passed laws aimed at reducing discrimination against people with disabilities.

These laws have begun to appear as the notion of civil rights has become more influential globally, and follow other forms of anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation aimed at preventing racial discrimination and sexism which began to emerge in the second half of the 20th century.

The Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992 makes disability discrimination unlawful and aims to promote equal opportunity and access for people with disabilities in Australia.

Basically the Act provides for:

A stronger whole-of-government, whole-of-community response to the rights and needs of people with a disability.

A framework for the provision of high quality services and supports for people with a disability.

The Australian Disability Discrimination Act protects individuals across Australia from direct and indirect discrimination in many parts of public life, such as employment, education and access to premises. The Act makes harassment on the basis of disability against the law. It also protects friends, relatives and others from discrimination because of their connection to someone with a disability.

For instance Section 23 of the Australian Disability Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of disability in providing access to or use of premises that the public can enter or use.  Building access issues also arise under other DDA provisions including in relation to employment, access to services, and accommodation. And Section 25 of the DDA makes it unlawful to discriminate in provision of accommodation on the grounds of disability of a person or his or her associates.

"To eliminate, as far as possible, discrimination against persons on the ground of disability in the areas of: work, accommodation, education, access to premises, clubs and sport; and the provision of goods, facilities, services and land; and existing laws; and the administration of Commonwealth laws and programs; and to ensure, as far as practicable, that persons with disabilities have the same rights to equality before the law as the rest of the community; and to promote recognition and acceptance within the community of the principle that persons with disabilities have the same fundamental rights as the rest of the community."

Under the Act, individuals can lodge complaints of discrimination and harassment with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Complaints made under the DDA are made to the Australian Human Rights Commission (previously known as the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, HREOC), which also handles complaints relating to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, Sex Discrimination Act 1984, Age Discrimination Act 2004 and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986.

A to Z of Australian Human Rights Commission disability rights and Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

Further Information Regarding Australian Discrimination Act

Disability Discrimination and Employment Issues Australia
Unfortunately the word disability suggests high dependence and a lack of competence in the minds of some. Underlying prejudice often focuses on the "difference", rather than the abilities and capacities of those affected by a disability. Employers reflect the range of beliefs and prejudices evident in the wider community.

Discrimination Lawyers in Australia
Discrimination is something that although we didn't hear much about years ago is very prevalent today, resulting in many cases of discrimination. This is in thanks to the many discrimination laws in Australia, United States and many other countries. Although there are many different types of discrimination, there are also many laws designed to protect people that have been discriminated against for one reason or another.