Reform proposal
Proposed reform
(as identified in
the Commission’s
Position Paper)
Relevant
recommendation
of Disability Royal
Commission
1–4
4.26–4.28
Stage 2: Longer-term reforms
Introduce positive duty across all protected attributes in
federal discrimination laws
NB: Positive duty introduced into the Sex Discrimination Act
for sexual harassment and related grounds in December 2022
by the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation
Amendment (Respect at Work) Act 2022 (Cth). Review to be
conducted in 2026.
Supporting trend analysis of discrimination complaints
6
Supporting better guidance materials and information about
complaints outcomes
8
Revamped processes for Disability Discrimination Act action
plans, and expansion of use of these across all discrimination
laws.
9–13
7.3, 7.6 and 7.10
re Education
Standards
New powers for the Commission to conduct voluntary audits
and special measures certifications.
Review of Disability Standards and potential development of
new standards.
New regulatory powers, including compliance notices,
enforceable undertakings, civil penalties and injunctive powers
15
Reform to the processes for evidencing discrimination
17–19
Consideration of introducing an intermediate adjudicative
process
21–23
Irrelevant criminal record is included as unlawful discrimination
ground; ILO complaint jurisdiction is consequently repealed
27–28
4.23
Regular review of all permanent exemptions in federal
discrimination law
29
4.31 (migration)
and further
discussed at page
329, Volume 4
Final Report
Removal of comparator test for proving discrimination
30
4.23
Amend test for indirect discrimination
32
4.24
Clarify meaning of special measures in Racial Discrimination Act
34
Notification obligations: Amend s 46PF(7)(c) AHRC Act to
remove the obligation to notify individuals who are the subject
of adverse allegations but who are not named respondents.
36
Amend Australian Human Rights Commission Act to address
Paris Principles:
37
• include a definition of ‘human rights’ that includes all of
Australia’s international human rights obligations
• refer to Paris Principles in objects
• regular re-baselining of Commission’s funding.
Table continued over
92
FREE & EQUAL: Revitalising Australia’s Commitment to Human Rights
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