Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated ActsParliament's reasons for enacting this Act are--
1 The international community has long recognised the need to protect and preserve the principles of dignity and equality for everyone.
2 This is reflected in a number of international human rights instruments that the Commonwealth has ratified, including--
• the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
• the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 111--Discrimination (Employment and Occupation)
• the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 156--Workers with Family Responsibilities
• the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• the Convention on the Rights of the Child
• the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons
• the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons.
3 The Parliament is supportive of the Commonwealth's ratification of these international instruments.
4 In fulfilling its obligations under these international instruments the Commonwealth has enacted certain human rights legislation.
5 The Parliament is satisfied that there is a need--
(a) to extend the Commonwealth legislation; and
(b) to apply anti-discrimination law consistently throughout the State; and
(c) to ensure that determinations of unlawful conduct are enforceable in the courts of law.
6 The Parliament considers that--
(a) everyone should be equal before and under the law and have the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination; and
(b) the protection of fragile freedoms is best effected by legislation that reflects the aspirations and needs of contemporary society; and
(c) the quality of democratic life is improved by an educated community appreciative and respectful of the dignity and worth of everyone.
7 It is, therefore, the intention of the Parliament to make provision, by the special measures enacted by the Act, for the promotion of equality of opportunity for everyone by protecting them from unfair discrimination in certain areas of activity and from sexual harassment and certain associated objectionable conduct.