Contents

Part I--Preliminary                                                                                                                 1

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

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

3............ Interpretation...................................................................................... 2

4............ Extension to external Territories......................................................... 3

5............ Additional operation of Act............................................................... 3

6............ Act binds the Crown.......................................................................... 4

6A......... Operation of State and Territory laws............................................... 4

6B......... Application of the Criminal Code...................................................... 5

7............ Ratification of Convention................................................................. 5

Part II--Prohibition of racial discrimination                                                             6

8............ Exceptions.......................................................................................... 6

9............ Racial discrimination to be unlawful................................................... 6

10.......... Rights to equality before the law........................................................ 7

11.......... Access to places and facilities............................................................ 8

12.......... Land, housing and other accommodation............................................ 9

13.......... Provision of goods and services.......................................................... 9

14.......... Right to join trade unions................................................................. 10

15.......... Employment..................................................................................... 10

16.......... Advertisements................................................................................. 11

17.......... Unlawful to incite doing of unlawful acts......................................... 11

18.......... Acts done for 2 or more reasons....................................................... 11

18A....... Vicarious liability.............................................................................. 12

Part IIA--Prohibition of offensive behaviour based on racial hatred      13

18B....... Reason for doing an act..................................................................... 13

18C....... Offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin 13

18D....... Exemptions....................................................................................... 14

18E........ Vicarious liability.............................................................................. 14

18F........ State and Territory laws not affected............................................... 14

Part III--Race Discrimination Commissioner and functions of Commission            15

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                             15

19.......... Race Discrimination Commissioner.................................................. 15

20.......... Functions of Commission................................................................. 15

Part IV--Offences                                                                                                                 16

26.......... Unlawful acts not offences unless expressly so provided................ 16

27.......... Offences relating to administration of Act....................................... 16

27F........ Non‑disclosure of private information............................................. 17

Part V--Community Relations Council                                                                     20

28.......... Establishment and functions of Council........................................... 20

Part VI--Administrative provisions                                                                            21

Division 1--Race Discrimination Commissioner                                         21

29.......... Appointment of Race Discrimination Commissioner...................... 21

30.......... Terms and conditions of appointment............................................. 21

31.......... Remuneration of Commissioner....................................................... 21

32.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 21

33.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 22

34.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 22

35.......... Outside employment........................................................................ 22

36.......... Acting Commissioner....................................................................... 22

40.......... Delegation......................................................................................... 23

Division 2--Community Relations Council                                                     24

41.......... Constitution of Council.................................................................... 24

42.......... Remuneration of members................................................................ 24

43.......... Meetings of Council......................................................................... 24

Part VII--Miscellaneous                                                                                                   26

44.......... Jurisdiction....................................................................................... 26

45.......... Protection from civil actions............................................................. 26

45A....... Commissioner to furnish information............................................... 27

47.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 27

Schedule--International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination          28

Notes                                                                                                                                             43

An Act relating to the Elimination of Racial and other Discrimination

WHEREAS a Convention entitled the "International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination" (being the Convention a copy of the English text of which is set out in the Schedule) was opened for signature on 21 December 1965:

AND WHEREAS the Convention entered into force on 2 January 1969:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable, in pursuance of all relevant powers of the Parliament, including, but not limited to, its power to make laws with respect to external affairs, with respect to the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws and with respect to immigration, to make the provisions contained in this Act for the prohibition of racial discrimination and certain other forms of discrimination and, in particular, to make provision for giving effect to the Convention:

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:

  

Notes to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975

Note 1

The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 52, 1975 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

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
Racial Discrimination Act 1975	52, 1975	11 June 1975	Ss. 1, 2 and 7: Royal Assent Remainder: 31 Oct 1975 (see Gazette 1975, No. S221)
Administrative Changes (Consequential Provisions) Act 1976	91, 1976	20 Sept 1976	S. 3: (a)	S. 4
Racial Discrimination Amendment Act 1980	18, 1980	23 Apr 1980	10 Dec 1981 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1981, No. G49, p. 2)	--
as amended by
Racial Discrimination Amendment Act 1981	25, 1981	14 Apr 1981	10 Dec 1981 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1981, No. G49, p. 2)	--
Racial Discrimination Amendment Act 1983	38, 1983	19 June 1983	19 June 1983	--
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1986	126, 1986	6 Dec 1986	10 Dec 1986 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1986, No. S631)	Ss. 31--34
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1988	38, 1988	3 June 1988	S. 3: Royal Assent (b)	S. 5(1)
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1990	115, 1990	21 Dec 1990	S. 49: Royal Assent (c)	--
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)	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1992	165, 1992	11 Dec 1992	S. 4 (Schedule [Part 2]): 8 Jan 1993 (d)	S. 3(2)
Sex Discrimination and other Legislation Amendment Act 1992	179, 1992	16 Dec 1992	13 Jan 1993	Ss. 2(2) and 4
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1993	13, 1994	18 Jan 1994	Part 4 (ss. 17--20): Royal Assent (e)	S. 18(2)
Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 1995	59, 1995	28 June 1995	Schedule (item 25): 30 Oct 1992 Remainder: Royal Assent	Ss. 4 and 5
Racial Hatred Act 1995	101, 1995	15 Sept 1995	13 Oct 1995	--
Statute Law Revision Act 1996	43, 1996	25 Oct 1996	Schedule 5 (items 133, 134): Royal Assent (f)	--
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 (item 760): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (g)	--
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 43: (h)	S. 4(1), (2) [see Table A]
Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004	40, 2004	21 Apr 2004	Schedule 2 (item 27): [see (i) and Note 2]	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2008	73, 2008	3 July 2008	Schedule 4 (items 426--435): 4 July 2008	--

(a)     The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was amended by section 3 only of the Administrative Changes (Consequential Provisions) Act 1976, subsection 2(7) of which provides as follows:

                 (7)   The amendments of each other Act specified in the Schedule made by this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on 22 December 1975.

(b)    The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 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 Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was amended by section 49 only of the Law and Justice 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 Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was amended by section 4 (Schedule [Part 2]) only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1992, subsection 2(7) of which provides as follows:

                 (7)   Part 2 of the Schedule commences on the 28th day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(e)     The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was amended by Part 4 (sections 17--20) 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.

(f)      The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was amended by Schedule 5 (items 133 and 134) only of the Statute Law Revision Act 1996, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(g)     The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 760) 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.

(h)     The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was amended by Schedule 43 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.

(i)      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.

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
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 I
S. 2......................................	am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986
S. 3......................................	am. No. 18, 1980 (as am. by No. 25, 1981); No. 126, 1986; No. 38, 1988; No. 179, 1992; No. 133, 1999; No. 73, 2008
S. 4......................................	am. No. 18, 1980
S. 6......................................	am. No. 18, 1980
	rs. No. 126, 1986
S. 6A...................................	ad. No. 38, 1983
	am. No. 126, 1986; No. 133, 1999
S. 6B...................................	ad. No. 24, 2001
Part II
S. 9......................................	am. No. 115, 1990
S. 10....................................	am. No. 18, 1980; No. 126, 1986
S. 11....................................	am. No. 43, 1996
S. 12....................................	am. No. 126, 1986
S. 13....................................	am. No. 43, 1996
S. 15....................................	am. No. 126, 1986; No. 43, 1996
S. 16....................................	am. No. 126, 1986
S. 18....................................	rs. No. 115, 1990
S. 18A.................................	ad. No. 115, 1990
Part IIA
Part IIA ................................	ad. No. 101, 1995
S. 18B.................................	ad. No. 101, 1995
S. 18C.................................	ad. No. 101, 1995
Note to s. 18C(1).................	am. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 18D--18F.......................	ad. No. 101, 1995
Part III
Heading to Part III.................	rs. No. 133, 1999
Part III ..................................	rs. No. 126, 1986
Division 1
S. 19....................................	rs. No. 126, 1986
S. 19A.................................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 20....................................	am. No. 18, 1980 (as am. by No. 25, 1981)
	rs. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 101, 1995; No. 133, 1999
Note to s. 20(1)...................	ad. No. 133, 1999
S. 20A.................................	ad. No. 18, 1980
	rep. No. 126, 1986
S. 21....................................	am. No. 18, 1980
	rs. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 22....................................	am. No. 18, 1980
	rs. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 179, 1992; No. 101, 1995
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 23....................................	am. No. 18, 1980
	rs. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Div. 2 of Part III....................	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 24....................................	am. No. 18, 1980
	rs. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 38, 1988; No. 165, 1992; No. 101, 1995
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 24AA, 24AB.................	ad. No. 165, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 24A--24E.......................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Div. 3 of Part III....................	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 24F..................................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25....................................	rs. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 25A--25H.......................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 25J, 25K........................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 25L, 25M.......................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	rs. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25MA..............................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25N.................................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25P..................................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	rs. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 25Q--25U.......................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25V.................................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 25W, 25X......................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 101, 1995
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25Y.................................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25Z.................................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 38, 1988; No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25ZA...............................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 165, 1992
	rs. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25ZAA............................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 59, 1995
S. 25ZAB............................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	am. No. 13, 1994
	rep. No. 59, 1995
S. 25ZAC............................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 59, 1995
S. 25ZB...............................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Div. 3A of Part III .................	ad. No. 59, 1995 rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 25ZC...............................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 179, 1992; No. 13, 1994
	rs. No. 59, 1995
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 25ZCA--25ZCF..............	ad. No. 59, 1995
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Div. 4 of Part III ...................	ad. No. 179, 1992 rep. No. 133, 1999
Ss. 25ZD--25ZI....................	ad. No. 179, 1992
	rep. No. 133, 1999
Part IV
S. 26....................................	am. No. 101, 1995
S. 27....................................	am. No. 18, 1980; No. 126, 1986; No. 133, 1999; No. 24, 2001
Ss. 27A--27D.......................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	rep. No. 133, 1999
S. 27E..................................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 133, 1999
	rep. No. 137, 2000
S. 27F..................................	ad. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 24, 2001
Note to s. 27F(3).................	ad. No. 24, 2001
Part V
S. 28....................................	am. No. 91, 1976; No. 18, 1980; No. 126, 1986
Part VI
Division 1
Heading to Div. 1 of Part VI.	rs. No. 126, 1986
S. 29....................................	rs. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 59, 1995
S. 30....................................	rs. No. 126, 1986
	am. No. 133, 1999
S. 31....................................	am. No. 126, 1986; No. 59, 1995
S. 32....................................	am. No. 91, 1976
	rs. No. 132, 1992
	am. No. 146, 1999
S. 33....................................	am. No. 126, 1986
S. 34....................................	am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986; No. 132, 1992
S. 35....................................	am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986
S. 36....................................	am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986; No. 132, 1992; No. 13, 1994
S. 37....................................	rep. No. 126, 1986
S. 38....................................	rep. No. 18, 1980
S. 39....................................	rep. No. 126, 1986
S. 40....................................	rs. No. 18, 1980
	am. No. 126, 1986; No. 132, 1992
Division 2
S. 41....................................	am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986; No. 73, 2008
S. 42....................................	am. No. 126, 1986; No. 59, 1995
S. 43....................................	am. No. 126, 1986; No. 73, 2008
Part VII
S. 44A.................................	ad. No. 18, 1980
	rep. No. 126, 1986
S. 45....................................	am. No. 18, 1980
	rep. No. 126, 1986
	ad. No. 38, 1988
	am. No. 133, 1999
S. 45A.................................	ad. No. 18, 1980
	am. No. 126, 1986
S. 46....................................	am. No. 91, 1976
	rep. No. 18, 1980
S. 47....................................	am. No. 126, 1986

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

27  Paragraph 20(2)(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 Disability Discrimination Act 1992;

                             (v)  the Sex Discrimination Act 1984;

As at 11 July 2008 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)

Division 1--Interpretation

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.

Division 2--Treatment of complaints lodged before starting day

Subdivision A--Treatment of complaint depends on the stage it has reached

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) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  it was lodged with the Commission; and

                     (b)  the Commission had not decided whether it was a complaint within the meaning of the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA.

             (2)  On the starting day:

                     (a)  the purported complaint is taken to have been lodged under section 46P of the new HREOCA; and

                     (b)  the Commission must then decide whether it is a complaint within the meaning of the new HREOCA.

6  Administrative appeal on Commission's decision as to whether complaint

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

                     (a)  before the starting day, the Commission decided that it was, or was not, a complaint within the meaning of the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA; and

                     (b)  on or after the starting day, the Court makes an order under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 to refer the matter to which the decision relates to the Commission for further consideration.

             (2)  On the day on which the order is made:

                     (a)  the purported complaint is taken to have been lodged under section 46P of the new HREOCA; and

                     (b)  the Commission must then decide whether it is a complaint within the meaning of the new HREOCA.

7  Complaint lodged but Commissioner not notified of it

             (1)  A purported complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  it was lodged with the Commission; and

                     (b)  the Commission decided that it was a complaint within the meaning of the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA; and

                     (c)  the Commission had not notified the appropriate Commissioner of it.

             (2)  On the starting day:

                     (a)  the purported complaint is taken to have been lodged under section 46P of the new HREOCA; and

                     (b)  the Commission is taken to have decided that it is a complaint within the meaning of the new HREOCA.

8  Commissioner notified of complaint but had not decided to dismiss or refer it

             (1)  A complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  the Commission had notified the appropriate Commissioner of the complaint; and

                     (b)  the appropriate Commissioner had not made a decision not to inquire, or not to continue to inquire, into the complaint; and

                     (c)  the appropriate Commissioner had not referred the complaint to the Commission.

             (2)  On the starting day, the complaint is taken to have been referred to the President under section 46PD of the new HREOCA.

9  Commissioner decided to dismiss complaint

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

                     (a)  before the starting day, the appropriate Commissioner decided not to inquire, or not to continue to inquire, into the complaint; and

                     (b)  on the starting day, the complainant could have required the appropriate Commissioner to:

                              (i)  refer the complaint to the President under section 71 of the old DDA if that section had not been repealed by this Act; or

                             (ii)  refer the Commissioner's decision to the President, or refer the complaint to the Commission, under section 24 of the old RDA if that section had not been repealed by this Act; or

                            (iii)  refer the Commissioner's decision to the President, or refer the complaint to the Commission, under section 52 of the old SDA if that section had not been repealed by this Act.

             (2)  On the starting day, the President is taken to have terminated the complaint under section 46PH of the new HREOCA.

Note:          The President is required to give a notice of termination of the complaint under section 14 of this Act.

10  Presidential review of Commissioner's decision to dismiss complaint

             (1)  A complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  the appropriate Commissioner decided not to inquire, or not to continue to inquire, into the complaint; and

                     (b)  the complainant required the appropriate Commissioner to refer the complaint, or the Commissioner's decision, to the President; and

                     (c)  the President had not made a decision under whichever of the following sections is applicable:

                              (i)  section 101 of the old DDA;

                   &