CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT 2006 - SECT 38 Conduct of public authorities

CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT 2006 - SECT 38

    (1)     Subject to this section, it is unlawful for a public authority to act in a way that is incompatible with a human right or, in making a decision, to fail to give proper consideration to a relevant human right.

    (2)     Subsection (1) does not apply if, as a result of a statutory provision or a provision made by or under an Act of the Commonwealth or otherwise under law, the public authority could not reasonably have acted differently or made a different decision.

Example

Where the public authority is acting to give effect to a statutory provision that is incompatible with a human right.

    (3)     This section does not apply to an act or decision of a private nature.

    (4)     Subsection (1) does not require a public authority to act in a way, or make a decision, that has the effect of impeding or preventing a religious body (including itself in the case of a public authority that is a religious body) from acting in conformity with the religious doctrines, beliefs or principles in accordance with which the religious body operates.

    (5)     In this section "religious body" means—

        (a)     a body established for a religious purpose; or

        (b)     an entity that establishes, or directs, controls or administers, an educational or other charitable entity that is intended to be, and is, conducted in accordance with religious doctrines, beliefs or principles .