December 2021 Chapter 5: Improving the practical operation of laws 4 Defining discrimination and related concepts 279 4.1 Direct discrimination – comparator test 279 4.2 A unified test for discrimination? 284 4.3 Duty to make reasonable adjustments 286 (a) An intended positive duty 286 (b) Impact of the Sklavos decision 288 (c) 291 Ways forward (d) Beyond the Disability Discrimination Act 293 (e) 294 ‘Unjustifiable hardship’ defence 4.4 Indirect discrimination – Disability Discrimination Act and Racial Discrimination Act ‘inability to comply’ 295 4.5 Victimisation 298 4.6 Meaning of ‘special measures’ provisions 299 4.7 Managing intersectionality 301 (a) Law 301 (b) Practice 302 (c) Options for reform 303 5 Other technical issues 304 304 5.1 Notification obligations 6 Amend the AHRC Act to confirm the AHRC’s operation as a Paris Principles compliant institution 305 7 Navigating the complexity of laws 307 8 Reform proposals – Improving practical operation of laws 308 10 FREE AND EQUAL An Australian Conversation on Human Rights