ARTICLE · 22 FEBRUARY 2011

Extension of discrimination protections

Moray & Agnew

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The Federal Attorney General has introduced the Sex Discrimination Act Amendment Bill 2010 into parliament proposing a number of changes to the regime which has existed for 26 years.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Stephen Marriott

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The Federal Attorney General has introduced the Sex Discrimination Act Amendment Bill 2010 into parliament proposing a number of changes to the regime which has existed for 26 years.

This marks the end of a prolonged investigation into the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, which was undertaken by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. This followed wide complaints that the

protections under the Act are not adequate. Examples given of such inadequacy included the fact that under the Act as it currently exists, the protection against discrimination on the ground of family responsibility is only triggered once an employee is dismissed.

Under the Bill, the Federal Government plans to enhance protections under the legislation to:

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