Contents

Part I—Preliminary                                                                                                                 1

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

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

3............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 1

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

5............ Extension to external Territories ....................................................... 10

6............ Extent to which Act binds the Crown .............................................. 10

6A......... Application of the Criminal Code .................................................... 10

Part II—Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission                       12

Division 1—Establishment and Constitution of Commission                12

7............ Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ....................... 12

8............ Constitution of Commission ............................................................ 12

8A......... The President .................................................................................... 13

8B......... The Human Rights Commissioner .................................................... 13

9............ Arrangement for appointment of the holder of a judicial office of a State                13

10.......... Appointment of Judge as member not to affect tenure etc. ............. 14

Division 2—Duties, functions and powers of Commission                      15

10A....... Duties of Commission ...................................................................... 15

11.......... Functions of Commission ................................................................. 15

13.......... Powers of Commission ..................................................................... 18

14.......... Form of examinations or inquiries to be at discretion of Commission etc.               18

15.......... Commission may engage in consultations ........................................ 20

16.......... Inter‑governmental arrangements ...................................................... 20

17.......... Advisory committees ....................................................................... 21

18.......... Declarations by Minister .................................................................. 22

19.......... Delegation ......................................................................................... 22

Division 3—Functions relating to human rights                                            24

19A....... Division applies to victimisation offences ....................................... 24

20.......... Performance of functions relating to human rights ........................... 24

21.......... Power to obtain information and documents .................................... 27

22.......... Power to examine witnesses ............................................................. 28

23.......... Failure to comply with requirement ................................................. 28

24.......... Disclosure of information or contents of documents ....................... 29

26.......... Offences relating to administration of Act ....................................... 32

27.......... Commission to give opportunity for making of submissions .......... 33

28.......... Nature of settlements ....................................................................... 33

29.......... Reports to contain recommendations ............................................... 33

Division 4—Functions relating to equal opportunity in employment 36

30.......... Interpretation etc. ............................................................................. 36

31.......... Functions of Commission relating to equal opportunity ................. 36

32.......... Performance of functions relating to equal opportunity .................. 38

33.......... Application of certain provisions of Division 3 ............................... 39

34.......... Nature of settlements ....................................................................... 40

35.......... Reports to contain recommendations ............................................... 40

Division 5—Administrative provisions                                                              42

36.......... Acting President and Human Rights Commissioner ......................... 42

37.......... Terms and conditions of appointment ............................................. 43

38.......... Remuneration and allowances ........................................................... 43

39.......... Leave of absence ............................................................................... 43

40.......... Resignation ....................................................................................... 44

41.......... Termination of appointment ............................................................ 44

42.......... Disclosure of interests ...................................................................... 45

43.......... Staff .................................................................................................. 45

43A....... Commission may make administrative services available to the Privacy Commissioner         45

44.......... Meetings of the Commission ............................................................ 45

45.......... Annual report ................................................................................... 46

46.......... Reports to be tabled in Parliament ................................................... 46

Division 6—Corporate plan                                                                                      47

46AA.... Corporate plan .................................................................................. 47

46AB.... Matters to be included in corporate plan ......................................... 47

46AC.... Corporate plans to be given to Minister .......................................... 47

Part IIA—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner       48

Division 1—Establishment and functions                                                         48

46A....... Interpretation .................................................................................... 48

46B....... Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner . 48

46C....... Functions of the Commission that are to be performed by the Commissioner        48

Division 2—Administrative provisions                                                              51

46D....... Terms and conditions of appointment ............................................. 51

46E........ Remuneration .................................................................................... 51

46F........ Leave of absence ............................................................................... 51

46G....... Outside employment ........................................................................ 51

46H....... Resignation ....................................................................................... 52

46I......... Termination of appointment ............................................................ 52

46J........ Acting Commissioner ....................................................................... 52

Division 3—Miscellaneous                                                                                       54

46K....... Commissioner may obtain information from government agencies .. 54

46L........ Commissioner must give information to the Commission ................ 55

46M...... Minister must table etc. report of Commissioner ............................ 55

Part IIB—Redress for unlawful discrimination                                                     56

Division 1—Conciliation by the President                                                       56

46P........ Lodging a complaint .......................................................................... 56

46PA..... Amendment of complaint ................................................................. 57

46PB..... Conditions for lodging a representative complaint ........................... 57

46PC..... Additional rules applying to representative complaints .................. 57

46PD..... Referral of complaint to President .................................................... 58

46PE..... Complaints against the President, Commission or a Commissioner 58

46PF..... Inquiry by President ......................................................................... 58

46PG..... Withdrawal of complaint .................................................................. 59

46PH..... Termination of complaint ................................................................. 59

46PI...... President’s power to obtain information .......................................... 60

46PJ...... Directions to attend compulsory conference .................................... 61

46PK..... Proceedings at compulsory conference ............................................. 62

46PL..... Failure to attend compulsory conference ......................................... 63

46PM.... Failure to give information or produce documents ........................... 63

46PN..... False or misleading information ........................................................ 64

Division 2—Proceedings in the Federal Court and the Federal Magistrates Court       65

46PO..... Application to court if complaint is terminated ............................... 65

46PP..... Interim injunction to maintain status quo etc. .................................. 66

46PQ..... Right of representation ..................................................................... 67

46PR..... Court not bound by technicalities .................................................... 67

46PS...... Report by President to court ............................................................ 67

46PT..... Assistance by Commission .............................................................. 68

46PU..... Assistance in proceedings before the court ...................................... 68

46PV..... Amicus curiae function of Commission members ............................ 68

Part IIC—Referral of discriminatory awards and determinations to other bodies                 70

46PW.... Referral of discriminatory industrial instruments to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission    70

46PX..... Referral of discriminatory determinations to the Remuneration Tribunal                71

46PY..... Referral of discriminatory determinations to the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal        73

Part III—Miscellaneous                                                                                                    75

47.......... Declaration of international instruments .......................................... 75

48.......... Protection from civil actions ............................................................. 76

49.......... Non‑disclosure of private information ............................................. 76

49A....... Information stored otherwise than in written form .......................... 78

49B....... Jurisdiction of Federal Court and Federal Magistrates Court .......... 78

49C....... Compensation for acquisition of property ....................................... 78

50.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 79

Schedule 1—Convention concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation 80

Schedule 2—International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights           85

Schedule 3—Declaration of the Rights of the Child                                        106

Schedule 4—Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons 109

Schedule 5—Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons                     111

Notes                                                                                                                                           115

  

Notes to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986

Note 1

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 125, 1986 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 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
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986		125, 1986	6 Dec 1986	10 Dec 1986 (see Gazette 1986, No. S631)
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1987		141, 1987	18 Dec 1987	S. 3: 1 Feb 1987 (a)	S. 5(1)
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1988		38, 1988	3 June 1988	S. 3: Royal Assent (b)	S. 5(1)
Statutory Instruments (Tabling and Disallowance) Legislation Amendment Act 1988		99, 1988	2 Dec 1988	2 Dec 1988	—
Privacy Act 1988		119, 1988	14 Dec 1988	1 Jan 1989 (see Gazette 1988, No. S399)	—
Defence Legislation Amendment Act 1990		75, 1990	22 Oct 1990	S. 5: Royal Assent (c)	—
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1990		115, 1990	21 Dec 1990	Part 1 (ss. 1, 2), Parts 3 and 4 (ss. 40–49): 21 Dec 1990 Ss. 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 16, 17, 20–23, 28, 30, 32, 33, 38 and 39: 4 Feb 1991 (see Gazette 1991, GN3, p. 278) Remainder: 21 June 1991	—
Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Act 1991		122, 1991	27 June 1991	Ss. 4(1), 10(b) and 15–20: 1 Dec 1988 Ss. 28(b)–(e), 30 and 31: 10 Dec 1991 (see Gazette 1991, No. S332) Remainder: Royal Assent	S. 31(2)
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Legislation Amendment Act 1992		132, 1992	30 Oct 1992	26 Nov 1992 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1992, No. S346)	—
as amended by
Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 1995		59, 1995	28 June1995	(see 59, 1995 below)	—
Sex Discrimination and other Legislation Amendment Act 1992		179, 1992	16 Dec 1992	13 Jan 1993	Ss. 2(2) and 4
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1992		180, 1992	16 Dec 1992	13 Jan 1993	—
Qantas Sale Act 1992		196, 1992	21 Dec 1992	Schedule (Parts 3, 6): (d)	S. 2(6) (am. by 60, 1993, s. 4; 168, 1994, s. 3)
as amended by
Qantas Sale Amendment Act 1993		60, 1993	3 Nov 1993	10 Mar 1993	—
Qantas Sale Amendment Act 1994		168, 1994	16 Dec 1994	Schedule (item 17): Royal Assent (e)	—
Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 1995		59, 1995	28 June 1995	Schedule (item 25): 30 Oct 1992 Remainder: Royal Assent	Ss. 4 and 5
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 520–523): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (f)	—
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment Act 1999		161, 1999	10 Dec 1999	Schedule 3 (items 1, 29): (g)	—
Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999		194, 1999	23 Dec 1999	Schedule 16: (h)	—
Privacy Amendment (Office of the Privacy Commissioner) Act 2000		2, 2000	29 Feb 2000	1 July 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S229)	—
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 32: (i)	S. 4(1), (2) [see Table A]
	Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Amendment Act 2002	22, 2002	4 Apr 2002	13 Apr 2000	—
	Statute Law Revision Act 2002	63, 2002	3 July 2002	Schedule 1 (item 21): (j)	—
	Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002	105, 2002	14 Nov 2002	Schedule 3 (item 50): 12 May 2003 ( see s. 2 and Gazette 2002, No. GN49)	—
	Australian Crime Commission Establishment Act 2002	125, 2002	10 Dec 2002	Schedule 2 (item 77): 1 Jan 2003	—
	Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004	40, 2004	21 Apr 2004	Schedule 1 (items 1–8): 23 June 2004 (see s. 2) Schedule 2 (items 22–25): [see (k) and Note 2]	—
	Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2004	62, 2004	26 May 2004	Schedule 1 (item 38): 27 May 2004	—
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Act 2005	32, 2005	22 Mar 2005	Schedule 4 (item 24): 24 Mar 2005	—
	Statute Law Revision Act 2005	100, 2005	6 July 2005	Schedule 1 (item 26): Royal Assent	—
	Intelligence Services Legislation Amendment Act 2005	128, 2005	4 Nov 2005	Schedules 1–8: 2 Dec 2005 Remainder: Royal Assent	—

(a)     The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1987, subsection 2(17) of which provides as follows:

               (17)   The amendment of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 made by this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the commencement of the Inspector‑General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986.

(b)    The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1988, 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 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 was amended by section 5 only of the Defence Legislation Amendment Act 1990, 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.

(d)     The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 was amended by the Qantas Sale Act 1992, subsections 2(2), (5) and (6) of which provide as follows:

                 (2)   Subject to subsection (3), the remaining provisions of this Act commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.

                 (5)   If, on the 100% sale day, Part 3 of the Schedule has not commenced, then, on the day on which Part 7 of the Schedule commences, Parts 3 and 6 of the Schedule are taken to have been repealed.

                 (6)   If a provision of this Act has not commenced before 31 August 1995, the provision is taken to have been repealed on that day.

         The Schedule (Parts 3 and 6) are taken to have been repealed on 31 August 1995.

(e)     The Qantas Sale Act 1992 was amended by the Schedule (item 17) only of the Qantas Sale Amendment Act 1994, 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.

(f)      The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 520–523) 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.

(g)     The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 was amended by Schedule 3 (item 29) only of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment Act 1999, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

                 (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 commenced on Royal Assent.

(h)     The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 was amended by Schedule 16 only of the Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:

                 (3)   If Schedule 1 to the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999 commences after the commencement of section 1 of this Act, Schedule 16 to this Act commences immediately after the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999.

         Schedule 1 to the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999 commenced on 13 April 2000.

(i)      The  Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 was amended by Schedule 32 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.

(j)      The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 21) only of the Statute Law Revision Act 2002, subsection 2(1) (item 16) of which 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.

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
16.  Schedule 1, item 21	Immediately after item 15 of Schedule 16 to the Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 commenced	13 April 2000

(k)     Subsection 2(1) [items 6 and 7] and (4) 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
6.  Schedule 2, item 22	Immediately after the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Act 2004, subject to subsection (4)	[see Note 2]
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)

                 (4)   If the Age Discrimination Act 2004 does not commence before the commencement of item 21 of Schedule 1 to the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Act 2004, item 22 of Schedule 2 to this Act does not commence at all.

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part I
S. 3......................................	am. No. 119, 1988; No. 115, 1990; Nos. 132 and 180, 1992; Nos. 133 and 194, 1999; No. 105, 2002; No. 40, 2004; SLI 2006 No. 50
S. 4......................................	rs. No. 133, 1999
S. 6......................................	am. No. 22, 2002
S. 6A...................................	ad. No. 24, 2001
Part II
Division 1
S. 8......................................	am. No. 119, 1988; Nos. 132 and 180, 1992; No. 59, 1995; No. 133, 1999; No. 2, 2000
S. 8A...................................	ad. No. 59, 1995
	am. No. 133, 1999
S. 8B...................................	ad. No. 59, 1995
Division 2
Heading to Div. 2 of Part II...	rs. No. 59, 1995
S. 10A.................................	ad. No. 59, 1995
S. 11....................................	am. No. 141, 1987; No. 75, 1990; No. 132, 1992; Nos. 133 and 161, 1999; No. 40, 2004; No. 128, 2005
S. 12....................................	rep. No. 59, 1995
Heading to s. 13..................	am. No. 59, 1995
S. 14....................................	am. No. 132, 1992; No. 24, 2001; No. 40, 2004
S. 16....................................	am. No. 38, 1988; No. 132, 1992; No. 133, 1999; No. 40, 2004
S. 19....................................	am. No. 132, 1992 (as am. by No. 59, 1995); No. 180, 1992; No. 59, 1995; No. 133, 1999; No. 40, 2004
Division 3
S. 19A.................................	ad. No. 179, 1992
S. 20....................................	am. No. 119, 1988
S. 21....................................	am. No. 75, 1990; No. 128, 2005
S. 23....................................	am. No. 24, 2001
S. 24....................................	am. No. 180, 1992; No. 125, 2002
S. 25....................................	rep. No. 137, 2000
Note to s. 26........................	ad. No. 137, 2000
Division 4
S. 30....................................	am. No. 179, 1992
S. 31....................................	am. No. 133, 1999; No. 100, 2005
S. 33....................................	am. No. 137, 2000
Division 5
S. 36....................................	am. No. 132, 1992; No. 59, 1995; No. 62, 2004
S. 37....................................	am. No. 133, 1999
S. 38....................................	am. No. 59, 1995
S. 39....................................	am. No. 122, 1991; No. 146, 1999
S. 41....................................	am. No. 122, 1991
S. 43....................................	am. No. 59, 1995; Nos. 133 and 146, 1999
Heading to s. 43A...............	am. No. 2, 2000
S. 43A.................................	ad. No. 59, 1995
	am. No. 2, 2000
S. 44....................................	am. No. 59, 1995
Division 6
Div. 6 of Part II ....................