Anti-discrimination reforms hold some challenges for employers

Key Points:

These reforms to discrimination law could impact employers' compliance with discrimination law, and increase their exposure to discrimination claims in the federal jurisdiction.

The promised consolidation of federal anti-discrimination laws is a step closer with the release on Tuesday of the exposure draft of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012. While a great deal of the current law would be retained in the new Act, the exposure draft contains some significant changes of which employers should be aware.

Vexatious discrimination claims could be struck out

No doubt many employers will greet with relief the proposal to give the Commission the power to close a complaint if it is satisfied that the complaint is frivolous, vexatious, misconceived or lacking in substance.