The Federal Government has released a public discussion paper to seek community views on the recent consolidation of Federal anti-discriminatory laws.

 

Attorney General Robert McClelland said successive Commonwealth Governments have long recognised that antidiscrimination protections are crucial to enable all Australians to participate fully in public life, address historical disadvantage and promote social cohesion.

 

Since 1975, this policy has been supported by five pieces of legislation: The Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, the Age Discrimination Act 2004 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986.

 

"These acts are now substantially inconsistent and unnecessarily complex. This results in confusion in respect to obligations arising under the laws and can increase the cost for legal and specialist assistance,” Mr McClelland said.

 

The consolidation project provides an opportunity to clarify existing protections and address areas where there may be gaps including seeking community views on the recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs 2008 report into the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and also that Committee's Report into the Disability Discrimination and other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2009.

 

The project also provides the opportunity to ensure consistency with other legislation including the Fair Work Act.

 

“As part of this project, the Government is also delivering on its commitment to introduce prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,”  Minister for Finance and Deregulation Penny Wong said.

 

Submissions on the discussion paper can be made until 1 February 2012. The discussion paper details on how to make a submission and further information about the project are available from the Attorney-General's Department website.

 

The consultations will inform the development of exposure draft legislation, which will be released for public consultation in early 2012.