Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                                1

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

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

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

4............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 2

5............ Disability discrimination .................................................................... 8

6............ Indirect disability discrimination ........................................................ 8

7............ Disability discrimination—palliative and therapeutic devices and auxiliary aids     9

8............ Disability discrimination—interpreters, readers and assistants ......... 9

9............ Disability discrimination—guide dogs, hearing assistance dogs and trained animals                10

10.......... Act done because of disability and for other reason ......................... 10

11.......... Unjustifiable hardship ...................................................................... 10

12.......... Application of Act ........................................................................... 11

12A....... Application of the Criminal Code .................................................... 13

13.......... Operation of State and Territory laws ............................................. 13

14.......... Extent to which Act binds the Crown .............................................. 14

Part 2—Prohibition of disability discrimination                                                     15

Division 1—Discrimination in work                                                                     15

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

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

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

18.......... Partnerships ...................................................................................... 18

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

20.......... Registered organisations under Schedule 1B to the Workplace Relations Act 1996 19

21.......... Employment agencies ....................................................................... 20

Division 2—Discrimination in other areas                                                       21

22.......... Education .......................................................................................... 21

23.......... Access to premises ........................................................................... 22

24.......... Goods, services and facilities ............................................................ 22

25.......... Accommodation ................................................................................ 23

26.......... Land .................................................................................................. 25

27.......... Clubs and incorporated associations ................................................ 25

28.......... Sport ................................................................................................. 26

29.......... Administration of Commonwealth laws and programs .................... 26

30.......... Requests for information .................................................................. 27

31.......... Disability standards .......................................................................... 27

32.......... Unlawful to contravene disability standards .................................... 29

33.......... Division 5 generally not to apply to disability standards ................ 29

34.......... This Part not to apply if person acts in accordance with disability standards        29

Division 3—Discrimination involving harassment                                       30

35.......... Harassment in employment .............................................................. 30

36.......... Harassment in employment—associates with disabilities ............... 31

37.......... Harassment in education ................................................................... 32

38.......... Harassment in education—associates with disabilities .................... 32

39.......... Harassment in relation to the provision of goods and services ........ 32

40.......... Harassment in relation to the provision of goods and services—associates with disabilities 32

Division 4—Offences                                                                                                   33

41.......... Unlawful act not offence unless expressly so provided ................... 33

42.......... Victimisation ..................................................................................... 33

43.......... Offence to incite doing of unlawful acts or offences ........................ 34

44.......... Advertisements ................................................................................. 34

Division 5—Exemptions                                                                                            35

45.......... Special measures ............................................................................... 35

46.......... Superannuation and insurance .......................................................... 35

47.......... Acts done under statutory authority ................................................ 36

48.......... Infectious diseases ............................................................................ 38

49.......... Exemption for charities ..................................................................... 38

50.......... Telecommunications ......................................................................... 39

51.......... Pensions and allowances ................................................................... 39

52.......... Migration .......................................................................................... 40

53.......... Combat duties and peacekeeping services ........................................ 40

54.......... Peacekeeping services by the AFP ................................................... 41

55.......... Commission may grant exemptions .................................................. 41

56.......... Review by Administrative Appeals Tribunal .................................. 43

57.......... Notice of decisions to be published .................................................. 43

58.......... Effect of exemptions ......................................................................... 43

Part 3—Action plans                                                                                                             45

59.......... Interpretation .................................................................................... 45

60.......... Action plans ..................................................................................... 45

61.......... Provisions of action plans ................................................................ 45

62.......... Action plans may have other provisions .......................................... 46

63.......... Amendment of action plans .............................................................. 46

64.......... Copy of action plan to be given to Commission .............................. 46

65.......... Commission to sell action plans to public ........................................ 46

Part 4—Functions of Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 47

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                             47

67.......... Functions of Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission .. 47

Part 5—Other offences                                                                                                       49

107........ Failure to provide actuarial data or statistical data ........................... 49

Part 6—Disability Discrimination Commissioner                                                50

113........ Disability Discrimination Commissioner ......................................... 50

114........ Terms and conditions of appointment ............................................. 50

115........ Remuneration of Commissioner ....................................................... 50

116........ Leave of absence ............................................................................... 50

117........ Outside employment ........................................................................ 51

118........ Resignation ....................................................................................... 51

119........ Termination of appointment ............................................................ 51

120........ Acting Commissioner ....................................................................... 51

Part 7—Miscellaneous                                                                                                        53

121........ Delegation ......................................................................................... 53

122........ Liability of persons involved in unlawful acts ................................. 53

123........ Conduct by directors, servants and agents ....................................... 53

124........ Commonwealth taken to be employer .............................................. 55

125........ Unlawful act not basis of civil action unless expressly so provided 55

126........ Protection from civil actions ............................................................. 55

127........ Non‑disclosure of private information ............................................. 56

128........ Information stored otherwise than in written form .......................... 58

129........ Commissioner to give information .................................................... 58

131........ Courts to ensure just terms .............................................................. 58

132........ Regulations ....................................................................................... 58

Notes                                                                                                                                             61

An Act relating to discrimination on the ground of disability

  

Notes to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992

Note 1

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 135, 1992 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 was amended by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2006 (No. 1) (SLI 2006 No. 50). The amendments are incorporated in this compilation.

All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 13 October 1999 is not included in this compilation. For subsequent information see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Disability Discrimination Act 1992	135, 1992	5 Nov 1992	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent Ss. 3–14, 59–65, 67(1)(d)–(m), 113–120, 126, 127, 129 and 132: 26 Nov 1992 (see Gazette 1992, No. S346) Remainder: 1 Mar 1993 (see Gazette 1992, No. S346)
Sex Discrimination and other Legislation Amendment Act 1992	179, 1992	16 Dec 1992	13 Jan 1993 (a)	S. 4
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1993	13, 1994	18 Jan 1994	Part 2 (ss. 3–5): Royal Assent (b)	S. 4(2)
Veterans’ Affairs (1994‑95 Budget Measures) Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1994	164, 1994	16 Dec 1994	Part 4 (s. 60): Royal Assent (c)	—
Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 1995	59, 1995	28 June 1995	S. 3 (item 25): 30 Oct 1992 Remainder: Royal Assent	Ss. 4 and 5
Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996	60, 1996	25 Nov 1996	Schedule 11 (item 61): 31 Dec 1996 (see Gazette 1996, No. S535) (d) Schedule 19 (item 18): Royal Assent (d)	S. 2(2) and (6) (am. by 77, 1996, Sch. 3 [items 1, 2])
as amended by
Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1996	77, 1996	19 Dec 1996	Schedule 3 (items 1, 2): (e)	—
Defence Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999	116, 1999	22 Sept 1999	Schedule 5 (item 2): 1 Jan 2001 (f)	—
as amended by
Statute Law Revision Act 2002	63, 2002	3 July 2002	Schedule 2 (item 9): (g)	—
Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999	133, 1999	13 Oct 1999	Ss. 1–3 and 21: Royal Assent S. 22 and Schedule 1 (items 53, 60): 10 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S598) Remainder: 13 Apr 2000	Ss. 4–22 [see Table A]
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Schedule 1 (items 394–396): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (h)	—
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment Act 1999	161, 1999	10 Dec 1999	Schedule 3 (items 1, 25): (i)	—
Australian Federal Police Legislation Amendment Act 2000	9, 2000	7 Mar 2000	2 July 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S328)	Sch. 3 (items 20, 24, 34, 35) [see Table A]
Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000	137, 2000	24 Nov 2000	Ss. 1–3 and Schedule 1 (items 1, 4, 6, 7, 9–11, 32): Royal Assent Remainder: 24 May 2001	Sch. 2 (items 418, 419) [see Table A]
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001	24, 2001	6 Apr 2001	S. 4(1), (2) and Schedule 24: (j)	S. 4(1) and (2) [see Table A]
Disability Discrimination Amendment Act 2002	62, 2002	3 July 2002	Schedule 1: 19 Aug 2002 (see Gazette 2002, No. GN32) Remainder: Royal Assent	—
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002	105, 2002	14 Nov 2002	Schedule 3 (item 41): 12 May 2003	—
Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004	40, 2004	21 Apr 2004	Schedule 2 (item 26): [see (k) and Note 2]	—
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004	52, 2004	27 Apr 2004	Schedule 3 (item 20): 1 July 2004 ( see s. 2)	—
Disability Discrimination Amendment (Education Standards) Act 2005	19, 2005	1 Mar 2005	Schedule 1: 10 Aug 2005 (see F2005L01968) Remainder: Royal Assent	—
Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2005	86, 2005	6 July 2005	6 July 2005	—

(a)     The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 was amended by the Sex Discrimination and other Legislation Amendment Act 1992, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

                 (2)   An amendment of a provision of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 commences:

                              (a)   on the 28th day after this Act receives the Royal Assent; or

                              (b)   on the commencement of the relevant provision of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992;

                         whichever is later.

         Section 4 commenced on 26 November 1992 (see Gazette 1992, No. S346). The remaining amended provisions commenced on 1 March 1993 (see Gazette 1992, No. S346).

(b)    The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 was amended by Part 2 (sections 3–5) only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1993, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(c)     The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 was amended by Part 4 (section 60) only of the Veterans’ Affairs (1994‑95 Budget Measures) Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1994, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Part 1, Divisions 1 and 11 of Part 2 and Parts 3 and 4 commence on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(d)     The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 11 (item 61) and Schedule 19 (item 18) only of the Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on a day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

                 (2)   Subject to subsection (3), the items of the Schedules, other than Schedule 5, item 1 of Schedule 9, items 2 and 3 of Schedule 12, item 90 of Schedule 16 and the items of Schedule19, commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.

(e)     The Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996 was amended by Schedule 3 (items 1 and 2) only of the Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2)1996, subsection 2(4) of which provides as follows:

                 (4)   The items of Schedule 3 are taken to have commenced immediately after the Workplace and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996 received the Royal Assent.

         The Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996 received the Royal Assent on 25 November 1996.

(f)      The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 5 (item 2) only of the Defence Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999, subsection 2(4) of which provides as follows:

                 (4)   Schedule 5 commences on 1 January 2001.

(g)     Subsection 2(1) (item 38) of the Statute Law Revision Act 2002 provides as follows:

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
38.  Schedule 2, item 9	Immediately after the time specified in the Defence Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999 for the commencement of item 2 of Schedule 5 to that Act	1 January 2001

(h)     The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 394–396) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.

                 (2)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.

(i)      The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 3 (items 1 and 25) only of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment Act 1999, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

Schedule 3

                 (2)   Subject to subsections (3) to (6), Schedule 3 commences immediately after the commencement of the other Schedules to this Act.

         The other Schedules to this Act commence on 10 December 1999.

(j)      The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 24 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001, subsection 2(1)(a) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the later of the following times:

                              (a)   immediately after the commencement of item 15 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000;

         Item 15 commenced on 24 May 2001.

(k)     Subsection 2(1) (item 7) of the Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, on the day or at the time specified in column 2 of the table.

 

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
7.  Schedule 2, items 23 to 28	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	[see Note 2] (paragraph (b) applies)

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. 179, 1992; No. 60, 1996; No. 116, 1999 (as am. by No. 63, 2002); Nos. 133, 146 and 161, 1999; No. 9, 2000; No. 105, 2002; No. 19, 2005; SLI 2006 No. 50
S. 12A..................................	ad. No. 24, 2001
S. 13.....................................	am. No. 133, 1999
Part 2
Division 1
Heading to s. 20...................	am. No. 60, 1996; No. 105, 2002
Division 2
S. 22.....................................	am. No. 19, 2005
S. 31.....................................	am. No. 133, 1999; No. 62, 2002; No. 19, 2005
S. 33.....................................	rs. No. 62, 2002
Division 4
S. 42.....................................	am. No. 133, 1999
S. 43.....................................	am. No. 24, 2001
Division 5
S. 47.....................................	am. No. 60, 1996; No. 133, 1999; SLI 2006 No. 50
Note to s. 47.........................	ad. No. 86, 2005
S. 51.....................................	am. No. 164, 1994; No. 52, 2004
S. 55.....................................	am. No. 62, 2002
Part 4
Heading to Part 4..................	rs. No. 133, 1999
Division 1
S. 66.....................................	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 67.....................................	am. No. 133, 1999
Note to s. 67(1)....................	ad. No. 133, 1999
S. 68.....................................	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 69.....................................	am. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 70.....................................	rep. No. 133, 1999
Div. 2 of Part 4.....................	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 71–76.............................	rep. No. 133, 1999
Div. 3 of Part 4.....................	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 77–88.............................	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 89, 90.............................	rs. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 90A..................................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 91.....................................	am. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 92.....................................	rs. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 93–97.............................	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 98.....................................	am. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 99–101...........................	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 102, 103.........................	am. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 104...................................	rs. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 104A................................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 59, 1995
S. 104B................................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	am. No. 13, 1994
	rep. No. 59, 1995
S. 104C................................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 59, 1995
S. 105...................................	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 106...................................	am. No. 179, 1992; No. 13, 1994
	rep. No. 59, 1995
Div. 3A of Part 4 ..................	ad. No. 59, 1995
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 105A–105F....................	ad. No. 59, 1995
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 106...................................	ad. No. 59, 1995
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Div. 4 of Part 4 ....................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 106A–106F....................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Part 5
S. 107...................................	am. No. 133, 1999; No. 24, 2001
Ss. 108–111.........................	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 112...................................	am. No. 133, 1999
	rep. No. 137, 2000
Part 6
S. 113...................................	am. No. 59, 1995
S. 116...................................	am. No. 146, 1999
Part 7
S. 123...................................	am. No. 133, 1999
S. 126...................................	am. No. 133, 1999
S. 127...................................	am. No. 24, 2001
Note to s. 127(3)..................	ad. No. 24, 2001
S. 130...................................	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 132...................................	am. No. 62, 2002

Note 2

Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004 (No. 40, 2004)

The following amendment commences immediately after the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Act 2004 (still a Bill):

Schedule 2

26  Paragraph 67(3)(c)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

                     (c)  whether, in the Attorney‑General’s opinion, the proceedings have significant implications for the administration of any of the following Acts:

                              (i)  this Act;

                             (ii)  the Age Discrimination Act 2004;

                            (iii)  the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986;

                            (iv)  the Racial Discrimination Act 1975;

                             (v)  the Sex Discrimination Act 1984;

As at 27 March 2006 the amendment is not incorporated in this compilation.

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999 (No. 133, 1999)

4  Interpretation

                   In this Part:

appropriate Commissioner means:

                     (a)  in relation to a complaint lodged under the old DDA—the Disability Discrimination Commissioner; and

                     (b)  in relation to a complaint lodged under the old RDA—the Race Discrimination Commissioner; and

                     (c)  in relation to a complaint lodged under the old SDA—the Sex Discrimination Commissioner.

Court means the Federal Court of Australia.

holding of an inquiry means a holding of an inquiry referred to in a notice given under:

                     (a)  section 83 of the old DDA; or

                     (b)  section 25E of the old RDA; or

                     (c)  section 63 of the old SDA.

new HREOCA means the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 as amended by Schedule 1 to this Act.

old DDA means the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 before being amended by Schedule 1 to this Act.

old RDA means the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 before being amended by Schedule 1 to this Act.

old SDA means the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 before being amended by Schedule 1 to this Act.

purported complaint means a document purporting to be a complaint.

starting day means the day on which this Part commences.

5  Purported complaint lodged but no decision as to whether it is a complaint

             (1)  A purported complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2