Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ACT 2005 - NOTES

        (a)     section 39 (1) (b) (When may someone complain about a health service?);

        (b)     section 40 (b) (When may someone complain about a disability service?);

        (c)     section 40A (b) (When may someone complain about a service for children and young people?);

        (d)     section 41 (b) (When may someone complain about a service for older people?).

"child "means a person who is under 12 years old.

"children and young people commissioner" means the Children and Young People Commissioner under section 19A.

"children and young people service complaint" means a complaint about a service for children and young people that may be made, or is made, under section 40A.

"commission"—

        (a)     see section 11; but

        (b)     in relation to the consideration of a complaint—means the commissioner considering the complaint for the commission.

"commission-initiated consideration"—see section 48 (1) and (2).

"Commonwealth commission" means the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission established by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cwlth).

"complainant "means—

        (a)     in relation to a complaint—the person who made the complaint; but

        (b)     in relation to a commission-initiated consideration under section 48 (2)—the commission and not the person who made the complaint (see s 49).

"conciliation", of a complaint—see section 55 (1).

"conciliation agreement"—see section 62 (1).

"conduct" means an act, an omission to do an act or a state of affairs.

"consideration", of a complaint, means consideration of the complaint under division 4.4.

"disability service"—see section 8.

"disability service complaint" means a complaint about a service for people with a disability that may be made, or is made, under section 40.

"disability and community services commissioner" means the Disability and Community Services Commissioner under section 20.

"discrimination commissioner" means the Discrimination Commissioner under section 22.

"discrimination complaint"—see section 42 (1) (c).

"discrimination referral statement"—see section 88.

"engage "in conduct means—

        (a)     do an act; or

        (b)     omit to do an act.

"final report", in relation to a complaint—see section 81.

"funding body "means an entity that has a function of paying for services provided to others.

"health code"—see section 89.

"health professional"—see the Health Professionals Act 2004, section 14.

"health professional report" means a report about a health professional that may be made, or is made, under the Health Professionals Act 2004, section 78 (Who may report?).

"health service"—see section 7.

"health service complaint" means a complaint about a health service that may be made, or is made, under section 39.

"health services commissioner" means the Health Services Commissioner under section 24.

"human rights commissioner" means the Human Rights Commissioner under section 26.

"incorporated document" means—

        (a)     the standards mentioned in section 39 (1) (b) (v) (When may someone complain about a health service?); or

        (b)     the standards mentioned in section 40 (b) (i) or (iv) (When may someone complain about a disability service?); or

        (c)     an instrument applied, adopted or incorporated by a statutory instrument under this Act.

"older people service complaint "means a complaint about a service for older people that may be made, or is made, under section 40.

"party", to the conciliation of a complaint—the complainant and the person complained about are each a party to the conciliation (see section 57 (1)).

"provider", of a service—see section 10.

"registered", for a health professional, means registered under the Health Professionals Act 2004.

"related Act"—each of the following is a related Act:

        (a)     Disability Services Act 1991;

        (b)     Discrimination Act 1991;

        (c)     Health Professionals Act 2004;

        (d)     Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997;

        (e)     Human Rights Act 2004.

"service for children and young people"—see section 8A.

"service for older people"—see section 9.

"third-party report"—see section 83 (1).

"unlawful act", for division 4.2A (Discrimination complaints to ACAT)—see section 53.

"young person" means a person who is 12 years old or older, but not yet an adult.

Endnotes

1     About the endnotes

Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law but are set out in the endnotes.

Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel's Office.

Uncommenced amending laws and expiries are listed in the legislation history and the amendment history. These details are underlined. Uncommenced provisions and amendments are not included in the republished law but are set out in the last endnote.

If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.

The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.

2     Abbreviation key

am = amended	ord = ordinance
amdt = amendment	orig = original
ch = chapter	par = paragraph/subparagraph
def = definition	pres = present
dict = dictionary	prev = previous
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative	(prev...) = previously
Assembly	pt = part
div = division	r = rule/subrule
exp = expires/expired	renum = renumbered
Gaz = gazette	reloc = relocated
hdg = heading	R[X] = Republication No
IA = Interpretation Act 1967	RI = reissue
ins = inserted/added	s = section/subsection
LA = Legislation Act 2001	sch = schedule
LR = legislation register	sdiv = subdivision
LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996	sub = substituted
mod = modified/modification	SL = Subordinate Law
o = order	underlining = whole or part not commenced
om = omitted/repealed	or to be expired

3     Legislation history

Human Rights Commission Act 2005 A2005-40

notified LR 1 September 2005
s 1, s 2 commenced 1 September 2005 (LA s 75 (1))

remainder commenced 1 November 2006 (s 2 and CN2006-21)

as amended by

Human Rights Commission (Children and Young People Commissioner) Amendment Act 2005 A2005-46 (as am by A2006-3 sch 1 pt 1.2)

notified LR 2 September 2005
s 1, s 2 commenced 1 September 2005 (LA s 75 (1))

remainder commenced 1 November 2006 (s 2 and see A2005-40, s 2 and CN2006-21)

Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2006 A2006-3 s 4

notified LR 22 February 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 22 February 2006 (LA s 75 (1))
s 4 commenced 23 February 2006 (s 2)

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2006 A2006-40 sch 1 pt 1.7

notified LR 28 September 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 28 September 2006 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.7 commenced 1 November 2006 (s 2 (2) and see A2005-40, s 2 and CN2006-21)

Human Rights Commission Amendment Act 2006 A2006-44

notified LR 25 October 2006

s 1, s 2 commenced 25 October 2006 (LA s 75 (1))

remainder commenced 1 November 2006 (s 2 and see A2005-40, s 2 and CN2006-21)

Carers Recognition Legislation Amendment Act 2006 A2006-47 pt 4

notified LR 28 November 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 28 November 2006 (LA s 75 (1))
pt 4 commenced 28 May 2007 (s 2 and LA s 79)

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2007 A2007-22 sch 1 pt 1.10

notified LR 5 September 2007

s 1, s 2 commenced 5 September 2007 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.10 commenced 6 September 2007 (s 2)

Children and Young People (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008 A2008-20 sch 2 pt 2.9, sch 3 pt 3.16

notified LR 17 July 2008

s 1, s 2 commenced 17 July 2008 (LA s 75 (1))

s 3 commenced 18 July 2008 (s 2 (1))

sch 2 pt 2.9 commenced 9 September 2008 (s 2 (3) and see Children and Young People Act 2008 A2008-19, s 2 and CN2008-13)

sch 3 pt 3.16 commenced 27 October 2008 (s 2 (4) and see Children and Young People Act 2008 A2008-19, s 2 and CN2008-13)

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (No 2) A2008-22 sch 1 pt 1.5

notified LR 8 July 2008

s 1, s 2 commenced 8 July 2008 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.5 commenced 29 July 2008 (s 2)

Statute Law Amendment Act 2008 A2008-28 sch 3 pt 3.34

notified LR 12 August 2008

s 1, s 2 commenced 12 August 2008 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 3 pt 3.34 commenced 26 August 2008 (s 2)

ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Legislation Amendment Act 2008 A2008-36 sch 1 pt 1.31

notified LR 4 September 2008

s 1, s 2 commenced 4 September 2008 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.31 commenced 2 February 2009 (s 2 (1) and see ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008 A2008-35, s 2 (1) and CN2009-2)

4     Amendment history

Commencement
s 2     sub A2006-3 s 4
    om R1 LA s 89 (4)

Main objects of Act
s 6     am A2005-46 s 4, s 5; A2007-22 amdts 1.31-1.33; pars renum R3 LA
    sub A2008-22 amdt 1.23

What is a disability service?
s 8 hdg     sub A2005-46 s 6
s 8     am A2005-46 s 6

What is a service for children and young people?
s 8A     ins A2005-46 s 7
    am A2008-20 amdt 2.20, amdt 3.31

Members of commission
s 12     am A2005-46 s 8; pars renum A2005-46 s 9; A2006-44 s 4, s 5; pars renum R1 LA

Commission's functions
s 14     am A2005-46 s 10, s 11; pars renum A2005-46 s 12; A2008-20 amdt 3.32

Commission president
div 3.2 hdg     om A2006-44 s 6

Appointment of president
s 18     om A2006-44 s 6

President's functions
s 19     om A2006-44 s 6

Children and young people commissioner
div 3.3 hdg     orig div 3.3 hdg renum as div 3.4 hdg
    ins A2005-46 s 13

Appointment of children and young people commissioner
s 19A     ins A2005-46 s 13

Children and young people commissioner's functions
s 19B     ins A2005-46 s 13

Delegation of children and young people commissioner's functions
s 19BA     ins A2006-40 amdt 1.20
    am A2008-22 amdt 1.24

Advisory committees for services for children and young people
s 19C     ins A2005-46 s 13

Disability and community services commissioner
div 3.4 hdg     orig div 3.4 hdg renum as div 3.5 hdg
    (prev div 3.3 hdg) renum as div 3.4 hdg A2005-46 s 15

Disability and community services commissioner's functions
s 21     sub A2005-46 s 14

Delegation of disability and community services commissioner's functions
s 21A     ins A2006-40 amdt 1.21
    am A2008-22 amdt 1.24

Discrimination commissioner
div 3.5 hdg     orig div 3.5 hdg renum as div 3.6 hdg
    (prev div 3.4 hdg) renum as div 3.5 hdg A2005-46 s 15

Delegation of discrimination commissioner's functions
s 23A     ins A2006-40 amdt 1.22
    am A2008-22 amdt 1.24

Health services commissioner
div 3.6 hdg     orig div 3.6 hdg renum as div 3.7 hdg
    (prev div 3.5 hdg) renum as div 3.6 hdg A2005-46 s 15

Delegation of health services commissioner's functions
s 25A     ins A2006-40 amdt 1.23
    am A2008-22 amdt 1.24

Human rights commissioner
div 3.7 hdg     orig div 3.7 hdg renum as div 3.8 hdg
    (prev div 3.6 hdg) renum as div 3.7 hdg A2005-46 s 15

Appointment of human rights commissioner
s 26     sub A2006-44 s 7

Delegation of human rights commissioner's functions
s 27A     ins A2006-40 amdt 1.24
    am A2008-22 amdt 1.24

Ending appointments
div 3.8 hdg     orig div 3.8 hdg renum as div 3.9 hdg
    (prev div 3.7 hdg) renum as div 3.8 hdg A2005-46 s 19

Application—div 3.8
s 28 hdg     sub A2005-46 s 16
s 28     am A2005-46 s 17; pars renum A2005-46 s 18
    sub A2006-44 s 28

Commission procedures
div 3.9 hdg     orig div 3.9 hdg renum as div 3.10 hdg
    (prev div 3.8 hdg) renum as div 3.9 hdg A2005-46 s 19

Time and place of commission meetings
s 30     am A2006-44 s 9

Presiding member at meetings
s 31     om A2006-44 s 10

Voting at meetings
s 33     am A2006-44 s 11

Conduct of meetings etc
s 35     am A2008-28 amdt 3.99

Staff and consultants of commission
div 3.10 hdg     (prev div 3.9 hdg) renum as div 3.10 hdg A2005-46 s 19

When may someone complain about a disability service?
s 40 hdg     sub A2005-46 s 20
s 40     am A2005-46 s 20

When may someone complain about a service for children and young people?
s 40A     ins A2005-46 s 21

What complaints may be made under this Act?
s 42     sub A2005-46 s 22

Who may make a complaint under this Act?
s 43     am A2005-46 s 23, s 24; A2006-47 ss 22-25; ss renum R2 LA; A2008-22 amdt 1.25, amdt 1.26

Commission's obligation to be prompt and efficient
s 45     am A2008-22 amdt 1.27, amdt 1.28

Outline—div 4.2
s 47     am A2008-22 amdt 1.29; A2008-36 amdt 1.352

Consideration without complaint or appropriate complainant
s 48     am A2005-46 s 25; A2008-22 amdt 1.30, amdt 1.31; A2008-36 amdt 1.353

Allocating complaints
s 50     am A2006-44 s 12

Referral of advocacy matters
s 51A     ins A2005-46 s 26
    am A2008-20 amdt 3.33

Referral to appropriate statutory office-holder
s 52A     (prev s 53A) ins A2008-22 amdt 1.32
    reloc and renum as s 52A A2008-36 amdt 1.355

Discrimination complaints to ACAT
div 4.2A hdg     ins A2008-36 amdt 1.354

Meaning of unlawful act—div 4.2A
s 53     sub A2008-36 amdt 1.354

Referral of discrimination complaints
s 53A     orig s 53A reloc and renum as s 52A
    ins A2008-36 amdt 1.354

Late application in exceptional circumstances
s 53B     ins A2008-36 amdt 1.354

Parties to ACAT proceeding on discrimination complaint
s 53C     ins A2008-36 amdt 1.354

Reliance on exceptions and exemptions
s 53D     ins A2008-36 amdt 1.354

Kinds of orders—unlawful acts under the Discrimination Act
s 53E     ins A2008-36 amdt 1.354

What is conciliation?
s 55     sub A2006-44 s 13

Delegation of commission's function of conciliation
s 56     sub A2006-44 s 14

Parties to conciliation
s 57     am A2006-44 s 25

Request for third-party to attend
s 58     am A2006-44 s 25

Compulsory attendance at conciliation
s 59     am A2006-44 s 25

Conduct of conciliation
s 60     am A2006-44 s 25

Relationship between conciliation and consideration
s 61     am A2006-44 s 15, s 16

Conciliated agreements
s 62     am A2006-44 s 17, s 25; A2008-36 amdt 1.356, amdt 1.357

Use of conciliation agreement by commission
s 63     sub A2006-44 s 18

Unsuccessful conciliation of discrimination matter
s 64     am A2006-44 s 25

End of conciliation
s 65     am A2006-44 s 19, s 25

Admissibility of evidence
s 66     am A2006-44 s 20

When complaints can be closed
s 78     am A2008-22 amdt 1.33; A2008-36 amdt 1.358, amdt 1.359

Closing discrimination complaints
s 82     am A2008-22 amdt 1.34

Discrimination referral statements
s 88     sub A2008-22 amdt 1.35; A2008-36 amdt 1.360

Information about complaints
s 95     am A2005-46 s 27

Secrecy
s 99     am A2005-46 s 28; A2006-44 s 21; pars renum R1 LA

Protection of officials from liability
s 100     am A2006-44 s 22; pars renum R1 LA

Transitional
pt 7 hdg     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Definitions for pt 7
s 106     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Conduct engaged in by previous discrimination commissioner
s 107     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Conduct engaged in by community and health services complaints commissioner
s 108     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Complaints under CHSC Act and HR(PA) Act
s 109     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Undeclined complaints under pre-amendment Discrimination Act
s 110     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Investigations under pre-amendment Discrimination Act
s 111     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Right to make applications to discrimination tribunal
s 112     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Requirement under pre-amendment Discrimination Act
s 113     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Direction by discrimination commissioner
s 114     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Undecided applications to discrimination tribunal to strike out complaint
s 115     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Other undecided applications to discrimination tribunal
s 116     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Requests to review under HR(PA) Act
s 117     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Appeal rights in relation to requests to review
s 118     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

References to community and health services complaints commissioner
s 119     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Transitional regulations
s 120     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Expiry of pt 7
s 121     exp 1 November 2007 (s 121)

Dictionary
dict     am A2005-46 s 29, s 30; A2008-36 amdts 1.361-1.363
    def applicable standard sub A2005-46 s 31
    def child ins A2005-46 s 32
    def children and young people commissioner ins A2005-46 s 32
    def children and young people service complaint ins A2005-46 s 32
    def conciliator om A2006-44 s 23
    def disability service ins A2005-46 s 32
    def discrimination commissioner ins A2005-46 s 32
    def discrimination complaint sub A2005-46 s 33
    def incorporated document sub A2005-46 s 34
    def president om A2006-44 s 24
    def service for children and young people ins A2005-46 s 35
    def service for people with a disability om A2005-46 s 36
    def unlawful act ins A2008-36 amdt 1.364
    def young person ins A2005-46 s 37

5     Earlier republications

Some earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to the publication order.

Since 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in electronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised republications have also been published in printed format. These republications are marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an authorised republication are identical.

Republication No and date	Effective	Last amendment made by	Republication for
R1 1 Nov 2006	1 Nov 2006– 27 May 2007	A2006-44	new Act and amendments by A2005-46, A2006-3, A2006-40 and A2006-44
R2 28 May 2007	28 May 2007– 5 Sept 2007	A2006-47	amendments by A2006-47
R3 6 Sept 2007	6 Sept 2007– 1 Nov 2007	A2007-22	amendments by A2007-22
R4 2 Nov 2007	2 Nov 2007– 28 July 2008	A2007-22	commenced expiry
R5 29 July 2008	29 July 2008– 25 Aug 2008	A2008-22	amendments by A2008-22
R6 26 Aug 2008	26 Aug 2008– 8 Sept 2008	A2008-28	amendments by A2008-28
R7 9 Sept 2008	9 Sept 2008– 26 Oct 2008	A2008-36	amendments by A2008-20
R8 27 Oct 2008	27 Oct 2008– 1 Feb 2009	A2008-36	amendments by A2008-20

© Australian Capital Territory 2009

Australian Capital Territory

A2005-40

Republication No 9

Effective: 2 February 2009

Republication date: 2 February 2009

Last amendment made by A2008-36






Unauthorised version prepared by ACT Parliamentary Counsel's Office

About this republication

The republished law

This is a republication of the Human Rights Commission Act 2005

(including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 2 February 2009

. It also includes any amendment, repeal or expiry affecting the republished law to 2 February 2009

.

The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3 and 4.

Kinds of republications

The Parliamentary Counsel's Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):

              • authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies

              • unauthorised republications.

The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication. Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.

This republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).

Uncommenced provisions and amendments

If a provision of the republished law has not commenced or is affected by an uncommenced amendment, the symbol  U  appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the uncommenced provision or amendment appears only in the last endnote.

Modifications

If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol  M  appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see Legislation Act 2001, section 95.

Penalties

The value of a penalty unit for an offence against this republished law at the republication date is—

(a) if the person charged is an individual—$100; or

(b) if the person charged is a corporation—$500.

Australian Capital Territory

Human Rights Commission Act 2005

Endnotes

Australian Capital Territory

Human Rights Commission Act 2005