Released 22/10/2021
The Canberra community is being asked to provide feedback on a plan to modernise and further reform ACT discrimination law.
Minister for Human Rights Tara Cheyne has announced the release for public consultation of a Discussion Paper on the proposed reforms of the Discrimination Act 1991.
“This review of the Discrimination Act is the next step on the path to modernising this important law. It was foreshadowed in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement as part of the ACT Government’s implementation of the Capital of Equality Strategy and follows reforms to the Discrimination Act made in 2016, 2018 and last year.”
Feedback from the community is sought on:
- A proposal to extend coverage of the Act, potentially to all areas of public life;
- The merits of placing a positive duty on public authorities and businesses to eliminate discrimination; and
- The best approach to exceptions in the Act, including whether those exceptions should be refined or, alternatively, replaced with a single ‘justification defence’.
The Discrimination Law Reform Discussion Paper and online survey can be found on the ACT Government’s YourSay page.
Consultations will feed into the development of a Discrimination Amendment Bill for introduction into the ACT Legislative Assembly next year.
“I urge all Canberrans as well as interested groups to provide feedback on the proposed reforms to ensure the ACT continues to lead the way in promoting equal opportunity, respect for diversity and social inclusion in our community,” Minister Cheyne said.
Public comments on the Discussion Paper close at midnight on 9 January 2022.
- Statement ends -
| Tara Cheyne, MLA | Media Releases