AGE DISCRIMINATION ACT 2004

This compilation was prepared on 5 August 2009
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 70 of 2009

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General's Department, Canberra

Contents

Part 1--Preliminary 1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Objects ................................................................................................ 1

4............ Simplified outline ................................................................................ 2

5............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 2

6............ Age discrimination not to include disability discrimination ............... 5

7............ Meaning of act--omission to act ........................................................ 5

8............ Commonwealth taken to be employer ................................................ 6

Part 2--Application and constitutional provisions 7

9............ Geographical application of Act ......................................................... 7

10.......... Application of Act--constitutional powers ...................................... 7

11.......... Compensation--constitutional safety net ........................................ 10

12.......... Operation of State and Territory laws ............................................. 10

13.......... Extent to which Act binds the Crown .............................................. 11

Part 3--Concept of age discrimination 12

14.......... Discrimination on the ground of age--direct discrimination ............ 12

15.......... Discrimination on the ground of age--indirect discrimination ......... 12

16.......... Act done because of age and for other reason ................................... 12

Part 4--Unlawful age discrimination 14

Division 1--Simplified outline 14

17.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 14

Division 2--Discrimination in work 15

18.......... Discrimination in employment ......................................................... 15

19.......... Discrimination against commission agents ....................................... 16

20.......... Discrimination against contract workers .......................................... 17

21.......... Partnerships ...................................................................................... 18

22.......... Qualifying bodies .............................................................................. 19

23.......... Registered organisations under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 20

24.......... Employment agencies ....................................................................... 21

25.......... Exemption for youth wages .............................................................. 22

Division 3--Discrimination in other areas 23

26.......... Education .......................................................................................... 23

27.......... Access to premises ........................................................................... 24

28.......... Goods, services and facilities ............................................................ 24

29.......... Accommodation ................................................................................ 25

30.......... Land .................................................................................................. 26

31.......... Administration of Commonwealth laws and programs .................... 27

32.......... Requests for information .................................................................. 27

Division 4--General exemptions 28

33.......... Positive discrimination ..................................................................... 28

34.......... Charities ............................................................................................ 28

35.......... Religious bodies ................................................................................ 29

36.......... Voluntary bodies .............................................................................. 29

37.......... Superannuation, insurance and credit--actuarial data etc. ................ 30

38.......... Superannuation legislation ................................................................ 31

39.......... Direct compliance with laws, orders etc. .......................................... 31

40.......... Taxation laws .................................................................................... 33

41.......... Pensions, allowances and benefits etc. ............................................. 33

41A....... Commonwealth employment programs ........................................... 35

42.......... Health ............................................................................................... 36

43.......... Migration and citizenship etc. .......................................................... 38

Division 5--Exemptions granted by Commission 39

44.......... Commission may grant exemptions .................................................. 39

45.......... Review by Administrative Appeals Tribunal .................................. 40

46.......... Notice of decisions to be published .................................................. 40

47.......... Effect of exemptions ......................................................................... 40

Part 5--Offences 41

Division 1--General rules relating to offences 41

48.......... Application of the Criminal Code .................................................... 41

49.......... Unlawful act not offence unless expressly provided ........................ 41

Division 2--Specific offences 42

50.......... Advertisements ................................................................................. 42

51.......... Victimisation ..................................................................................... 42

52.......... Failure to disclose source of actuarial or statistical data ................... 44

Part 6--Functions of the Australian Human Rights Commission 46

53.......... Functions of the Commission ........................................................... 46

Part 7--Miscellaneous 48

54.......... Power to require source of actuarial data or statistical data ............. 48

55.......... Delegation ......................................................................................... 48

56.......... Liability of persons involved in unlawful acts ................................. 48

57.......... Conduct by directors, employees and agents ................................... 48

58.......... Protection from civil actions ............................................................. 50

59.......... Unlawful act not basis of civil action unless expressly so provided 50

60.......... Non‑disclosure of private information ............................................. 51

61.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 53

Schedule 1--Laws for which an exemption is provided by subsection 39(1) 54

Schedule 2--Provisions of laws for which an exemption is provided by subsection 39(1A) 57

Notes 59

An Act relating to discrimination on the ground of age

Notes to the Age Discrimination Act 2004

Note 1

The Age Discrimination Act 2004 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 68, 2004 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

The Age Discrimination Act 2004 was amended by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2006 (No. 1) (SLI 2006 No. 50). The amendment is incorporated in this compilation.

For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Age Discrimination Act 2004	68, 2004	22 June 2004	23 June 2004
Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004	40, 2004	21 Apr 2004	Schedule 2 (items 1-21): (a)	Sch. 2 (items 18, 19, 21)
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004	52, 2004	27 Apr 2004	Schedule 3 (items 7A, 7B): 1 July 2004 (see s. 2(1))	--
Human Services Legislation Amendment Act 2005	111, 2005	6 Sept 2005	Schedule 2 (items 82, 83): 1 Oct 2005	--
Australian Sports Anti‑Doping Authority (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2006	7, 2006	7 Mar 2006	Schedule 1 (items 2, 3) and Schedule 2 (items 13-19): 13 Mar 2006 (see s. 2(1) and F2006L00764)	Sch. 2 (items 13-19)
Age Discrimination Amendment Act 2006	63, 2006	22 June 2006	22 June 2006	--
Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Consequential, Transitional and Other Measures Act 2006	125, 2006	4 Nov 2006	Schedules 1-3: 1 July 2007 (see s. 2(1)) Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Australian Citizenship (Transitionals and Consequentials) Act 2007	21, 2007	15 Mar 2007	Schedules 1-3: 1 July 2007 (see s. 2(1) and F2007L01653) Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 3 (items 14, 16)
Private Health Insurance (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2007	32, 2007	30 Mar 2007	Schedule 2 (item 1): 1 Apr 2007 (see s. 2(1)) Schedule 2 (item 2): 1 July 2008	--
Farm Household Support Amendment Act 2007	60, 2007	15 Apr 2007	15 Apr 2007	--
Dental Benefits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008	42, 2008	25 June 2008	Schedule 1 (item 1): 26 June 2008 (see s. 2(1))	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2008	73, 2008	3 July 2008	Schedule 3 (item 25): Royal Assent	--
Same‑Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws--General Law Reform) Act 2008	144, 2008	9 Dec 2008	Schedule 2 (items 4-8): 10 Dec 2008	--
Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2009	54, 2009	25 June 2009	Schedule 5 (items 1-3, 60-64): (b)	--
Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Act 2009	66, 2009	1 July 2009	Schedule 1 (item 1): 1 July 2009	--
Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 2009	70, 2009	8 July 2009	Schedule 1 and Schedule 3 (items 1-13): 5 Aug 2009	Sch. 1 (item 2)

Commencement information
5. Schedule 2, items 1 to 21	The later of: (a) immediately after the commencement of the Age Discrimination Act 2004; and (b) immediately after the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Act 2004	(paragraph (b) applies)

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
11. Schedule 5, items 1 to 30	Immediately after the commencement of Part 2‑4 of the Fair Work Act 2009.	1 July 2009 (see F2009L02563)
13. Schedule 5, items 32 to 64	Immediately after the commencement of Part 2‑4 of the Fair Work Act 2009.	1 July 2009 (see F2009L02563)

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
S. 4......................................	am. No. 70, 2009
S. 5......................................	am. Nos. 54 and 70, 2009
Part 2
S. 10....................................	am. No. 70, 2009
S. 12....................................	am. No. 70, 2009
Part 3
S. 16....................................	rs. No. 70, 2009
Part 4
Division 2
Heading to s. 23..................	am. No. 54, 2009
S. 23....................................	am. No. 54, 2009
Division 3
S. 29....................................	am. No. 144, 2008
Division 4
Example to s. 33(a) Renumbered Example 1...	No. 63, 2006
Example 2 to s. 33(a)..........	ad. No. 63, 2006
S. 36....................................	am. No. 54, 2009
S. 38....................................	am. No. 63, 2006
S. 39....................................	am. SLI 2006 No. 50; No. 63, 2006; Nos. 54 and 70, 2009
Note to s. 39(8)...................	rs. No. 54, 2009
S. 41....................................	am. No. 52, 2004; No. 63, 2006; No. 60, 2007
S. 41A.................................	ad. No. 63, 2006
S. 42....................................	am. No. 111, 2005
S. 43....................................	am. No. 21, 2007
Part 5
Division 2
Note to s. 50(1)...................	am. No. 70, 2009
S. 51....................................	am. No. 70, 2009
Note to s. 51(1)...................	am. No. 70, 2009
Note to s. 51(2)...................	am. No. 70, 2009
Part 6
Heading to Part 6.................	rs. No. 70, 2009
S. 53....................................	am. No. 70, 2009
Note to s. 53(1)...................	am. No. 70, 2009
Part 7
S. 60....................................	am. No. 70, 2009
Schedule 1
Schedule 1..........................	am. Nos. 7, 63 and 125, 2006; No. 73, 2008; No. 54, 2009
Schedule 2
Schedule 2..........................	ad. No. 63, 2006
	am. No. 32, 2007; No. 42, 2008; No. 66, 2009

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Australian Sports Anti‑Doping Authority (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2006 (No. 7, 2006)

Schedule 2

13 Continued application of ASDA Act etc.

(1) For the purposes of this item, the following provisions are the core operative provisions:

(a) Part 3 of the ASDA Act;

(b) Part 3A of the ASDA Act;

(d) Part 3C of the ASDA Act;

(e) sections 66, 66A, 67, 67A, 67C, 72, 72A and 73 of the ASDA Act;

(f) Part 1 of the ASDA Act, to the extent to which it relates to a provision mentioned in any of the above paragraphs;

(g) item 14 of the table in Schedule 1 to the Age Discrimination Act 2004.

(2) Despite the repeal of the core operative provisions by this Act:

(a) the core operative provisions; and

(b) the ASDA regulations; and

continue to have effect after the transition time, subject to the modifications set out in items 14, 15 and 16, as if those repeals had not happened.

14 Modifications of provisions of the ASDA Act

For the purposes of item 13, the modifications of provisions of the ASDA Act are as follows:

(a) a reference in the provisions of the ASDA Act to the transition time is a reference to the transition time within the meaning of this Schedule;

(b) a reference in the provisions of the ASDA Act to the Agency is, except in relation to matters that occurred before the transition time, to be construed as a reference to the ASADA;

(c) a reference in the provisions of the ASDA Act to the ASDMAC is, except in relation to matters that occurred before the transition time, to be construed as a reference to the ASDMAC as constituted under the ASADA Act;

(d) omit paragraph 4A(2)(f) of the ASDA Act;

(e) the ASDA Act does not authorise the amendment of a drug testing scheme after the transition time;

(f) in section 17Y of the ASDA Act, insert ", before the transition time," after "may";

(g) in paragraph 17ZC(1)(a) of the ASDA Act, insert ", before the transition time," after "requested";

(h) in subparagraph 17ZC(1)(c)(vi) of the ASDA Act, insert "before the transition time" after "failure by the person";

(i) in paragraph 17ZC(2)(d) of the ASDA Act, insert ", before the transition time," after "failed";

(j) section 67 of the ASDA Act does not apply to information obtained after the transition time in the course of, or in relation to, the provision under contract of:

(i) drug testing services (within the meaning of the ASDA Act); or

(ii) safety checking services (within the meaning of the ASDA Act); or

(iii) other services (including information technology services) relating to sports drug and safety matters;

(k) subsection 67(3) of the ASDA Act does not apply to a disclosure for the purposes of the NAD scheme;

(l) if a disclosure of information is covered by paragraph (k), the disclosure is authorised by this paragraph;

(m) in paragraph 67C(2)(b) of the ASDA Act, insert "before the transition time," before "the Agency requests,";

(n) section 72 of the ASDA Act does not apply to an act done, or omitted to be done, after the transition time;

(o) such other modifications (if any) as are prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph.

15 Modifications of the ASDA regulations

For the purposes of item 13, the modifications of the ASDA regulations are as follows:

(a) a reference in the ASDA regulations to the transition time is a reference to the transition time within the meaning of this Schedule;

(b) a reference in the ASDA regulations to the Agency is, except in relation to matters that occurred before the transition time, to be construed as a reference to the ASADA;

(c) a reference in the ASDA regulations to the ASDMAC is, except in relation to matters that occurred before the transition time, to be construed as a reference to the ASDMAC as constituted under the ASADA Act;

(d) the ASDA regulations do not authorise the amendment of the ASDA drug testing orders after the transition time;

(e) in regulations 7 and 7B of the ASDA regulations, insert ", before the transition time," after "may";

(f) in subregulation 13A(1) of the ASDA regulations, insert ", before the transition time," after "may";

(g) a request under subregulation 13A(1) of the ASDA regulations has no effect to the extent (if any) to which it requires a competitor to keep the ASADA informed of where the competitor can be found after the transition time;

(h) in subregulation 15(1) of the ASDA regulations, insert ", before the transition time," after "may";

(i) in subregulation 15(2) of the ASDA regulations, insert "before the transition time" after "provided by a competitor";

(j) in regulation 16 of the ASDA regulations, insert "before the transition time" after "provided by a competitor";

(k) in subregulation 17(1) of the ASDA regulations, insert "(in accordance with subregulation 15(1) or (3))" after "may";

(l) in paragraph 49(1)(b) of the ASDA regulations, insert ", before the transition time," after "asks the competitor";

(m) in subregulation 49A(1) of the ASDA regulations, insert ", before the transition time," after "failed to comply";

(n) in paragraph 49C(1)(b) of the ASDA regulations, insert "before the transition time" after "could be made";

(o) in subregulation 64(1) of the ASDA regulations, insert "under Part 2" after "competitor";

(p) in subregulation 64(2) of the ASDA regulations, insert ", before the transition time," after "may";

(q) in subregulation 64(2A) of the ASDA regulations, insert ", under subregulation (2)," after "approval";

(r) in paragraph 64(3)(b) of the ASDA regulations, insert "before the transition time" after "competitor";

(s) in paragraph 64(4)(b) of the ASDA regulations, insert "given before the transition time" after "sample";

(t) in subregulations 64(5) and (5A) of the ASDA regulations, insert ", before the transition time," after "If";

(u) in subregulations 64(5B) and (5C) of the ASDA regulations, insert "before the transition time" after "decision made by the ASDMAC";

(v) omit regulations 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 and 70 of the ASDA regulations;

(w) in subregulation 71(1) of the ASDA regulations, insert "before the transition time," after "may,";

(x) omit regulation 81 of the ASDA regulations;

(y) such other modifications (if any) as are prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph.

16 Modifications of the ASDA drug testing orders

For the purposes of item 13, the modifications of the ASDA drug testing orders are as follows:

(a) a reference in the ASDA drug testing orders to the Agency is, except in relation to matters that occurred before the transition time, to be construed as a reference to the ASADA;

(b) such other modifications (if any) as are prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph.

17 ASADA's transitional functions

The functions of the ASADA include any functions conferred on it by:

(a) a provision of the ASDA Act; or

(b) the ASDA regulations; or

continued in effect by item 13.

18 ASDMAC's transitional functions

The functions of the ASDMAC include any functions conferred on it by:

(a) a provision of the ASDA Act; or

(b) the ASDA regulations; or

continued in effect by item 13.

19 Disclosure of NAD scheme personal information

(1) A disclosure of NAD scheme personal information for the purposes of any of the following:

(a) a provision of the ASDA Act continued in effect by item 13;

(b) the ASDA regulations continued in effect by item 13;

is an exception to the prohibition in subsection 71(1) of the ASADA Act.

Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to a matter in this subitem (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).

(2) If a disclosure of NAD scheme personal information is covered by subitem (1), the disclosure is authorised by this subitem.

Australian Citizenship (Transitionals and Consequentials) Act 2007
(No. 21, 2007)

Schedule 3

14 Definition

In this Part:

commencement day means the day on which sections 2A to 54 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 commence.

16 Application--Age Discrimination Act 2004

The amendment made by item 2 of Schedule 1 applies in relation to things done by a person on or after the commencement day.

Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 2009 (No. 70, 2009)

Schedule 1

2 Application

The amendment of section 16 of the Age Discrimination Act 2004 made by this Schedule applies in relation to acts done after the commencement of this Schedule.

Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

AGE DISCRIMINATION ACT 2004 - NOTES

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
5. Schedule 2, items 1 to 21	The later of: (a) immediately after the commencement of the Age Discrimination Act 2004; and (b) immediately after the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Act 2004	(paragraph (b) applies)