Disability Discrimination Bill 1992: Explanatory memorandum
Disability Rights
Disability Discrimination
Bill 1992: Explanatory memorandum
Contents
Part
1: Preliminary
Clause
1 - Short Title
Clause
2 - Commencement
Clause
3- Objects
Clause
4 -Interpretation
Clause
5 - Disability discrimination
Clause
6 - Indirect disability discrimination
Clause
7 - Disability discrimination palliative and therapeutic devices and auxiliary
aids
Clause
8 - Disability discrimination interpreters. readers and assistants
Clause
9 - Disability discrimination - guide dogs. hearing assistance
dogs and trained animals
Clause
10 - Act done because of disability and for other reason
Clause
11 - Unjustifiable hardship
Clause
12 - Application of Act
Clause
13 - Operation of State and Territory Laws
Clause
14 - Extent to which Act binds the Crown
Part
2 - Prohibition of Disability Discrimination
Clause
15 - Discrimination in employment
Clause
16 - Discrimination against commission agents
Clause
17 - Discrimination against contract workers
Clause
18 - Partnerships
Clause
19 - Qualifying bodies
Clause
20 - Registered organisations under the Industrial Relations Act
Clause
21 - Employment agencies
Clause
22 - Education
Clause
23 - Access to premises
Clause
24 - Goods, services and facilities
Clause
25 - Accommodation
Clause
26 - Land
Clause
27 - Clubs and incorporated associations
Clause 28 - Sport
Clause
29 - Administration of Commonwealth laws and programs
Clause
30 - Request for Information
Clause
31 - Disability Standards
Clause
32 - Unlawful to contravene disability standards
Clause
33 - Division 5 not to apply to disability standards
Clause
34 - This Part not to apply if persons act in accordance with disability standards
Clause
35 - Harassment in Employment
Clause
36 - Harassment in Employment: Relatives and Associates with Disabilities
Clause
37 - Harassment in Education
Clause
38 - Harassment in Education: Relatives and Associates with Disabilities
Clause
39 - Harassment in Relation to the Provision of Goods and Services
Clause
40 - Harassment in Relation to Provision of Goods and Services: Relatives and
Associates with Disabilities
Clause
41 - Unlawful act not offence unless expressly so provided
Clause
42 - Victimization
Clause
43 - Offence to incite doing of unlawful acts through offences
Clause
44 - Advertisements
Clause
45 - Special Measures
Clause
46 - Superannuation and insurance
Clause
47 - Acts done under statutory authority
Clause
48 - Infectious disease
Clause
49 - Exemption for charities
Clause
50 - Telecommunications
Clause
51 - Pensions and allowances
Clause
52 - Migration
Clause
53 - Combat duties and peace keeping
Clause
54 - Peace keeping services by the AFP
Clause
55 - Commission may grant exemptions
Clause
56 - Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Clause
57 - Notice of decisions to be published
Clause
58 - Effect of exemptions
Clause 59 -
Interpretation
Clause 60 - Action plans
Clause 61 - Provisions of action plans
Clause 62 - Action plans may have other provisions
Clause
63 - Amendment of action plans
Clause 64 - Copy of action plan to be given to Commission
Clause 65 -
Commission to sell action plans to public
Part
4:Inquiries and Civil Proceedings
Clause 66 -
Interpretation
Clause
67 - Functions of Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Clause 68 - Functions of Commissioner
Clause 69 - Complaints
Clause 70 - Commissioner taken to be a complainant
Clause 71 - Inquiries by Commissioner
Clause 72 - Application for interim determination under
Section 102
Clause 73 - Power to obtain information or documents
Clause 74 - Direction to persons to attend compulsory conference
Clause 75 - Compulsory conference
Clause 76 - Reference of matters to the Commissioner
Clause 77 - Minister may appoint persons to participate
in inquiries
Clause
78 - Reference of matter to the Commission by the Minister
Clause 79 - Inquiries into complaints
Clause 80 - Exercise of inquiry powers by Commission
Clause 81 - Single Inquiry in relation to several complaints
Clause 82 - Joinder of parties by Commission
Clause 83 - Notice of inquiry and rights of parties
Clause 84 - Parties to an inquiry
Clause 85 - Right of appearance and representation
Clause 86 - Inquiries may be held in private
Clause 87 - Commission may prohibit publication of evidence
Clause 88 - Counsel assisting Commission
Clause 89 - Determination of representative complaints
Clause 90 - Matters to be considered in determination of
representative complaints
Clause 91 - Amendment of representative complaint
Clause 92 - Ordinary complaints not precluded by representative
complaint
Clause 93 - Resolution of complaint by conciliation
Clause 94 - Evidence and findings in other proceedings
Clause 95 - Powers of the Commission to take evidence
Clause
96 - Fees for witnesses
Clause 97 - Retention and copying of documents
Clause 98 - Applications of rules of evidence
Clause
99 - Consideration of exceptions and exemptions
Clause
100 - Commission may dismiss trivial etc. complaints
Clause
101 - President may dismiss trivial. etc. complaints
referred under Subsection 71(5)
Clause
102 - Making interim determination
Clause 103 - Determination or other decision of the Commission
Clause
104 - Proceedings in the Federal Court
Clause
105 - Assistance in proceedings before Commission
Clause 106 - Assistance in proceedings of the Federal Court
Part 5:Other offences
Clause
107 - Failure to provide actuarial data or statistical data
Clause
108 - Failure to attend
Clause
109 - Failure to give information and produce documents
Clause
110 - Offences in relation to Commission
Clause
111 - Self-incrimination
Clause
112 - False or misleading information
Part
6 - Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Clause
113 - Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Clause
114 - Terms and conditions of appointment
Clause
115 - Remuneration of Commissioner
Clause
116 - Leave of absence
Clause
117 - Outside employment
Clause
118 - Resignation
Clause
119 - Termination of appointment
Clause
120 - Acting Commissioner
Part
7 - Miscellaneous
Clause
121 – Delegation
Clause
122 - Liability of persons involved in unlawful acts or offences
Clause
123 - Conduct by directors, servants and agents
Clause
124 - Commonwealth taken to be employer
Clause
125 - Unlawful Act not basis of civil action unless expressly so provided
Clause
126 - Protection from civil actions
Clause
127 - Non-disclosure of private information
Clause
128 - Information stored otherwise than in written form
Clause
129 - Commissioner to give information
Clause
130 - Jurisdiction of Federal Court
Clause
131 - Courts to ensure just terms
Clause
132 - Regulations
1992
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION BILL 1992
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
(circulated by authority of the
Minister for Health Housing and Community Services
the Honourable Brian Howe MP and
the Attorney‑General the Honourable Michael Duffy MP)
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION BILL 1992
This Bill provides for national, uniform
legislation to make unlawful discrimination against people with disabilities
in certain circumstances.
1. The Bill makes unlawful discrimination
on the grounds of disability in the areas of employment, education, access to
premises, the provision of goods, services and facilities, accommodation, the
disposal of land, the activities of clubs, sport, the administration of Commonwealth
laws and programs and in requests for certain information. Harassment
of a person on the grounds of disability is also made unlawful.
2. Disability is broadly defined and
will include the concepts of physical, sensory, intellectual and psychiatric
disability. It includes past, present, future and imputed disability.
3. Discrimination is defined to include
direct and indirect discrimination, discrimination to relatives and associates,
discrimination on the basis of the possession of certain devices such as wheelchairs
and canes and discrimination on the basis that a person needs assistance from
either humans or in some cases animals. for example guide dogs.
4. The legislation is complaints based
and there is established the office of Disability Discrimination Commissioner
who will be part of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC).
The Commissioner's main function will be to attempt to conciliate complaints.
Where that process is unsuccessful HREOC will be able to inquire into complaints
and may make determinations. These determinations are not of themselves binding
on the parties but will be enforceable in the Federal Court.
5. The Bill also provides that only reasonable accommodation needs to be made
for people with disabilities, and persons against whom complaints are made will
be able to argue that the accommodation necessary to be made will involve unjustifiable
hardship on that person. In relation to employment an employer will be able
to argue that a person with a disability is unable to carry out the inherent
requirements of the job.
6. The Bill makes provision for the
introduction of disability standards in the future should it be decided by Government,
in consultation with relevant parties, that such standards are necessary. Disability
Standards are described in clause 31 of the Bill.
7. Provision is also made for service
providers to lodge 'Action Plans' with HREOC These plans will outline long term
strategies to overcome perceived discriminatory practices and will be taken
into account by HREOC when determining unjustifiable hardship.
The establishment of the office of
the Disability Discrimination Commissioner and the funding of necessary public
education campaigns, the funding of support agencies required to assist people
with disabilities enforce their rights under the legislation, minor additional
public service staffing and an amount for additional resources for legal aid
is expected to amount to approximately $5.5m in the first year.
Impacts on Government agencies from
the legislation are difficult to predict and based on existing experiences in
States which have legislation of this sort are not expected to be significant
and should occur over a lengthy period of time.
Notes on Clauses
Part 1: Preliminary
This part sets out the introductory
sections of the Bill and deals with a number of what are basically machinery
provisions. The first two clauses deal with what the legislation will be called
and when it is to take effect.
This part also sets out the objects
of the Bill which state what it is hoped the legislation will achieve (Clause
3). There is a major provision which defines, in detail, a number of terms used
later in the Bill (Clause 4).
This part also sets out just what
is meant by both direct and indirect discrimination (Clauses 5&6). The term
unjustifiable hardship is also defined in this part (Clause 11).
There is also a major provision which
sets out how certain provisions apply and is intended to make it clear that
the Commonwealth is relying on all possible powers under the Constitution to
support this legislation (Clause 12).
There are provisions which deal with
how State and Territory laws in this area are intended to operate after this
legislation is in force (Clause 13) and a provision which sets out how the Act
is intended to affect Governments at Federal, State and Territory level (Clause
14). Details of the provisions are set out below.
(Note: the summaries of the various
Parts of the Bill are only intended to show how the Parts work and fit into
the overall scheme of the Bill. They do not mention every clause and the details
of the provisions should always be referred to when a particular clause is being
examined.)
1. This legislation is to be called
the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
The legislation, except for clauses
1&2 which come into effect on Royal Assent, is to come into operation on
a day or days that will be set by the Governor‑General by a proclamation
which is to be published in the Commonwealth Gazette.
It is intended that Part 1 and clauses
66, 67 and 68 of Part 4 and Part 6 of the Act will come into force earlier than
the rest of the Act. This will allow the Disability Discrimination Commissioner
to conduct an awareness and education campaign concerning
the Act before the complaints mechanism actually comes into force
This clause sets out what the legislation
hopes to achieve. The clause indicates that the Act is designed to eliminate,
as far as possible, discrimination against persons on the ground of disability
in the areas set out in Part 2. It is also designed to ensure that people with
disabilities have, as far as possible, the same rights as other citizens.
All the other provisions of the Act
are to be read as being designed to carry out these objects as far as is possible.
This clause defines many of the terms
that are used elsewhere in the Act. Some of the more significant ones are:
"disability"
The term is broadly defined and is
intended to include physical, sensory, intellectual and psychiatric impairment,
mental illness or disorder, and provisions relating to the presence in the body
of organisms causing or capable of causing disease. These provisions have broad
application, for example, they are intended to ensure that persons with
HIV/AIDS come within the definition of disability for the purposes of this Bill.
The definition also includes a disability
which presently exists, that existed in the past and one that may exist in the
future. This is designed to include persons whose disability is not yet apparent
but which may occur at some time in the future. The definition will also include
a disability that is imputed to someone, even though they do not in fact have
that disability.
"Employment"
This definition is not meant to set
out all that is meant by the term employment, for example, employment in the
private sector is covered although it is not set out in the definition.
The definition is designed to ensure
that certain special kinds of employment, like part‑time and temporary,
are included for the purposes of this Act.
"Services"
This definition again is not meant
to include all possible services expressly but to ensure that certain services
are contained within the definition. This provision is designed to set out what
services are included when considering discrimination on the grounds of disability
in the provision of goods, services and facilities in Clause 24 of the Act.
Clause 5: Disability
discrimination
This provision defines what is meant
by direct discrimination against a person on the grounds of a person's disability.
Direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably on the
basis of their disability in circumstances that are the same or not materially
different than a person without the disability.
Example.. A refuses to employ B in a job that involves the cleaning
of premises on the basis that B has an intellectual disability and cannot read.
Being able to read is not an inherent requirement of the job. A discriminates
against B directly on the basis of B's disability.
The clause also states that circumstances
will not be regarded as being materially different because the discriminator
has to provide different accommodation or services to the aggrieved person.
Whether, in fact, the discriminator will be required to provide the different
accommodation will be determined when the issue of unjustifiable hardship is
dealt with.
Clause 6 -
Indirect disability discrimination
This provision covers discrimination
which occurs because a condition or requirement is imposed which unfairly impacts
on people with disabilities even if that was not its actual intention.
Example ‑ A service provider
provides a service on the first floor of a building where the only access is
by a flight of stairs. Such a 'requirement'‑ to use the stairs to access
the service could be indirect discrimination under this Bill against a person
with a mobility disability.
Clause 7 -
Disability discrimination palliative and therapeutic devices and auxiliary aids
This clause provides that a person
is discriminated against on the grounds of disability if a person treats them
less favourably on the basis that the person with a disability has a palliative,
therapeutic or auxiliary aid. Such aids include wheelchairs, canes, hearing
assistance devices, braillers and the like.
Clause 8 - Disability discrimination interpreters. readers and assistants
Similarly to Clause 7 this provision
states that a person is discriminated against on the basis of disability if
a person treats the person with a disability less favourably and does so on the basis that the person is accompanied by another person,
who in some way is required to help the person with a disability.
Example – if a doctor refuses to
allow a person who signs for a person with a hearing disability into the consulting
room when the doctor is treating the person with the hearing disability and
that person requests the person who signs for them to be present.
Clause 9 - Disability discrimination ‑ guide dogs. hearing assistance dogs and trained animals
This clause is similar to Clauses
7 and 8 but in this case deals with the situation where a person with a disability
requires the assistance of a trained animal. This will most usually be a trained
dog.
Example ‑
where a taxi driver refuses to transport a blind person because the person has
a guide dog.
Clause 10
- Act done because of disability and for other reason
This clause provides that where an
act is done for a number of reasons and one of those reasons is the person's
disability then for the purposes of this legislation, the act is taken to be
done for the reason of the person's disability.
In relation to direct discrimination
the reason that someone has done a particular discriminatory act is very important.
It would be very difficult in some cases to show that one reason for doing something
was more important than another. This provision overcomes the need to make that
distinction.
Clause 11
- Unjustifiable hardship
When determining whether or not a
person should be required to make a reasonable accommodation for a person with
a disability, if the person making the accommodation provides some evidence
that the provision of such accommodation will cause unjustifiable hardship,
HREOC and if required the Federal Court will have to decide whether or
not requiring a person to make the accommodation will involve that person in
unjustifiable hardship.
Unjustifiable hardship is to be determined
on the basis of a number of factors listed in this clause.
Firstly, the nature of the benefit
or detriment likely to be accrued or suffered by any person concerned (sub paragraph
11(a)).
Example ‑ the provision of
ramps in a supermarket will have benefits for people other than those in wheelchairs.
People such as those using baby strollers or shopping trolleys may also benefit
from the provision of such ramps.
Secondly, the effect of the disability
of a person concerned. An accommodation will not need to be provided that the
person with a disability cannot use (sub paragraph 11(b)).
Thirdly, the actual financial circumstances
and the costs of providing the reasonable accommodation will need to be taken
into account. Clearly the larger the company the more it can usually afford.
In some cases relatively minor alterations will be beyond the capacity of some
small businesses. Costs to a government will also have to be taken into account
when the complaint is against the government (sub paragraph 11 (c)).
Finally where a service provider has
made an action plan as provided for in Part 3 of the Act that action plan will
need to be taken into account (sub paragraph ll(d)).
Example: an action plan may indicate
that the particular discriminatory practice complained of would have been dealt
with by the service provider in the near future anyway. HREOC may decide to
allow the service provider to rectify the practice in line with its plan.
Clause 12
- Application of Act
This clause provides that the legislation
is to apply throughout . The provision is also designed to ensure
that all possible Commonwealth Constitutional power is relied upon to support
the various provisions of the Act.
In particular sub‑clause (8) of this clause indicates that certain provisions
of the legislation have effect in relation to discrimination against people
with disabilities to the extent that the provisions implement Australian
responsibilities under certain international instruments. Most notably these
are the United Nations International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights
and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Labour Organisations
Convention Number 111 entitled Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect
of Employment and Occupation.
In relation to ILO 111 Australia determined
in 1988 that disability would be regarded as a distinction, exclusion or preference
for the purposes of Article 1 (b) of that Convention. In 1989 gave limited legislative effect to that determination
when it enacted regulations under the HREOC Act giving HREOC authority to investigate
complaints in relation to discrimination on the basis of disability in employment.
It is also clear from a number of
lesser international instruments that discrimination against people with a disability
is a matter of concern to the international community generally. The limited
application provisions apply to the extent of that international concern. The
Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, The Declaration on the Rights
of Mentally Retarded Persons and The Declaration on the Rights of the Child
are just some of the instruments which further indicate how discrimination against
people with disabilities is a matter of international concern.
Clause 13
- Operation of State and Territory Laws
This provision is designed to ensure
that State and Territory legislation operating in this area can continue to
operate concurrently with this legislation after it becomes law.
Essentially the way this is done is
set out in sub clauses (4) and (5) whereby, under sub clause (4), if a person
has made, for example, a complaint under State or Territory law about a particular
matter they will not be able to make a complaint under this Act about the same
matter. A person will have to make a choice between State /Territory law and
Commonwealth law.
Sub clause (5) provides that if a
person is prosecuted under a State or Territory law for a particular matter
then they cannot be prosecuted again under this Act for the same matter.
Clause 14
- Extent to which Act binds the Crown
This provision sets out that this
Act is intended to bind the governments of the Commonwealth, of each of the
States and of the Territories.
This means for example that State
and Territory government employees will be able ,to
make complaints under this legislation concerning discrimination by State and Territory employers including government departments.
Part 2 - Prohibition
of Disability Discrimination
This Part of the Bill, amongst other
things, sets out those areas of discrimination which are to be covered by this
legislation.
This Part is the major part of the
Act that makes unlawful discrimination against people with disabilities. Under
the provisions of Clause 68 complaints may be made that acts have occurred which
are unlawful under Part 2. These provisions jointly provide the mechanism by
which discrimination against people with disabilities can actually be complained
of and suitable remedies obtained.
This Part covers discrimination in
employment, education, access to premises, the provisions of goods, services
and faculties, accommodation, the disposal of land, clubs and incorporated associations,
sport, the administration of Commonwealth laws and programs and requests for
information. Harassment in employment, education and the provision of goods
and services is also covered. Not all areas of possible discrimination are dealt
with by this Bill, for example, discrimination in private homes is not dealt
with. Only those areas set out in this Part are covered. Consultation with people
with disabilities and the broader community have indicated that these are the
major areas of concern.
This Part also contains provisions
which relate to the possible setting, in the future, of minimum standards in
relation to certain areas of discrimination provided for in this Part. This
Bill does not establish any standards. These standards may cover such areas
as employment, education, accommodation, the provision of public transport services
and facilities and the administration of Commonwealth laws and programs.
Such standards.
will be subject to further consideration by the Government
and further consultation with all interested parties. Under the provision of
Clause 131 it will be necessary before any standards are made to take account
of any comments that may be made by State and Territory governments about any
proposed standards.
This Part also makes provision for
certain offences such as victimisation of a person who takes action under this
Act. Actions which may be offences can also be the subject, of a complaint under
the provisions of Clause 68.
This Part also contains a number of
exemptions which set out areas where discrimination will be permitted to continue,
notwithstanding this Act.
The most important of these exemptions
relates to special measures. Essentially these are measures, often taken by
government, but also by others, which are intended to either create equal opportunities
for people with disabilities or to assist people with disabilities to meet their
special needs. Clearly, these positive measures should be allowed to continue.
The provision of exemptions is intended to provide a balance between the right
of people with disabilities to have the same rights as other citizens and other
competing interests such as the need to maintain very high standard of fitness
in the defence forces. The exemptions are set out in Division 5.
This legislation is designed to give
people with disabilities a fair
go. It is not designed to interfere with eligibility for pensions and other
allowances. One of the exemptions makes it clear that pensions and allowances
under certain Acts are not interfered with by this Bill (Clause 51).
Division 1 - Discrimination in
work
Clause 15
- Discrimination in employment
This provision states that it is to
be unlawful for an employer or person acting on behalf of an employer to discriminate
against a person with a disability or a person's relatives or associates in
relation to employment. The areas of employment that are covered include those
relating to recruitment or other means of offering employment to a person and
also include the actual terms and conditions of employment with the employer.
access to promotion and training, dismissal of the
employee, or the subjecting of an employee to any other detriment.
There are two exemptions created by
subclauses 3 and 4. Subclause 3 exempts employment basically in private households
where the person against whom a complaint might be made actually lives.
Subclause 4 provides a more important exemption. This clause essentially
provides that a person with a disability cannot, by the provisions of this Bill,
make a complaint alleging that they were not given a job which they in fact
cannot do. The Bill talks about a person not being able to carry out
the inherent requirements of a particular job. There is also a further
exemption given where an employer can show that to provide the services or facilities
that might be necessary to employ a person with a disability would impose on
that employer an unjustifiable hardship.
Example.. A refuses to employ B in a position involving
basic clerical duties on the basis that B is in a wheelchair. B is able
to perform all of the requirements of the job and the costs to A to provide
access to the workplace for B are minimal. In this case A discriminates unlawfully
against B.
Clause 16
- Discrimination against commission agents
This provision sets out that it is
unlawful to discriminate against a person who is a commission agent on a similar
basis to that established for employment generally under clause 15.
Again subclause 3 provides the person who engages a commission agent
with similar exemptions in relation to the ability to carry out the inherent
requirements of a commission agent and the imposition of unjustifiable hardship
as are established in clause 15.
Clause 17
- Discrimination against contract workers
This provision is designed to make
it unlawful to discriminate against a contract worker on the ground of. that worker's disability. A contract worker is essentially
a person who works under a specific contract rather than, for example, under
a more general industrial award.
Subclause 2 of this clause also provides exemptions relating to
the inherent requirements of a contract worker and the imposition of unjustifiable
hardship on the person who is a principal in the contract with that worker.
This clause deals with discrimination
against people with disabilities in relation to partnerships where there are
more than two partners. It is made unlawful to discriminate against a person
on the grounds of a person's disability or to discriminate against a person's
relatives or associates on the ground of a person's disability in relation to
who can become a partner and the terms and conditions upon which that partnership
is offered. The provision also covers the denial of access to benefits, expulsion
of a partner or the subjecting of a partner to any other detriment.
As with Clause 15, 16 and 17, there
are exemptions to allow partners to argue that the complainant cannot carry
out the inherent requirements of the job of a partner or that the services and
facilities that are necessary to allow that partner to carry out those functions
would impose unjustifiable hardship on the other partners.
This clause makes it unlawful for
an authority or body which has authority in relation to the giving of certain
authorizations or qualifications needed for carrying on certain occupations
or facilitates practice of a profession or trade or occupation to discriminate
against a person or the person's relatives or associates on the basis of his/her
disability.
There is an exemption contained in
subclause 2 which basically provides that the particular
authorizing body does not discriminate against a person with a disability unlawfully
if that person is unable to carry out the inherent requirements of the particular
profession, trade or occupation.
Example.. A jockey club authorized to provide licences to the trainers
of race horses refuses to provide A with a licence to train horses on the basis
that A has a hearing impairment. Notwithstanding this impairment A is able to
carry out the inherent requirements of the training of horses. In this case
the jockey club would unlawfully discriminate against
A.
Clause 20
- Registered organisations under the Industrial Relations Act
This clause provides that it is unlawful
for an organisation registered under the Industrial Relations Act, such as a
union, to discriminate against a person or their relatives or associates on
the basis of the person's disability.
Subclause 2 indicates that the denial or limiting of access to
benefits provided by the organisation or any of the terms of membership or subjecting
a person to other detriment is also unlawful.
This clause contains no exemption
relating to inherent requirements of the job as membership of such an organisation
would be dependent on the person already being able to carry out the inherent
requirements of the job.
Clause 21
- Employment agencies
This clause makes it unlawful for
an agency which organises employment for persons to discriminate against a person
or their relatives or associates on the grounds of the person's disability by
either refusing to provide services or by the terms and conditions or the manner
in which the services are provided.
Subclause 2 provides an exemption for an employment agency where
the person concerned is; unable to carry out the inherent requirements of the
job that that person might be seeking.
Division 2 - Discrimination in
Other Areas
This clause makes it unlawful for
an educational authority to discriminate against a person or their relatives
or associates on the grounds of a person's disability in refusing or failing
to accept the person's application for admission or in the terms and conditions
upon which the authority is prepared to accept the person as a student. Unlawful
behaviour also includes the denial of access or limiting of access, expulsion
of the student or the subjecting of the student to any other detriment on the
basis of their disability.
There are two exemptions to this provision.
Subclause 3 provides that it is not unlawful to discriminate
against a person where an educational institution is established for persons
with a particular disability. For example certain institutions catering for
persons who are deaf where the person concerned does not have that particular
disability.
Subclause 4 provides the educational authority with an ability
to argue that it would be an unjustifiable hardship on that authority if it
were required to provide the services or the facilities necessary to accommodate
the student concerned.
Clause 23
- Access to premises
This provision makes it unlawful to
discriminate against people with disabilities or their relatives or associates
in relation to the provision of access, or the terms and conditions on which
access is provided, to premises that the public or a section of the public is
entitled to enter or use.
Premises are defined in Clause 4 to
include buildings, aircraft, vehicles or vessels, places and parts of premises.
The provision also makes it unlawful to discriminate by not allowing the person
to use certain facilities or on the terms and conditions on which those facilities
are made available to people with disabilities.
Subclause 2 contains an exemption for premises that are designed
or constructed in such a way that they are not accessible for people with disabilities
or where the alterations that will be necessary to provide access would impose
unjustifiable hardship on the person who has to provide the access.
Example, A is the owner of a major
shopping complex and has not provided facilities necessary to provide access
to B who has a mobility disability. Those facilities e.g. the provision of ramps
can be provided without substantial cost to A It is also clear that others such
as those using child strollers or shopping trolleys will benefit from the provision
of these facilities. A by failing to provide these facilities discriminates unlawfully against B and B could
bring a complaint against A.
Clause 24
- Goods, services and facilities
This provision makes it unlawful for
someone who provides goods, services and facilities to discriminate against
a person or their relatives or associates on the basis of the person's disability
by refusing to provide the goods and services or facilities or by the terms
and conditions on which those goods, services and facilities are offered.
Services are defined in Clause 4 and
include services relating to banking, insurance, grants, loans, credit or finance,
entertainment, recreation or refreshment, transport, travel, telecommunications
or services provided by a profession or trade or services provided by a Government,
government authority or local government body.
The provision also contains an exemption
where in making the facilities available or by providing the goods and services
in the manner necessary would impose unjustifiable hardship on the person making
that provision.
This provision is designed to make
unlawful discrimination against people with disabilities or their relatives
or associates in relation to the application for, or terms and conditions on
which, accommodation is offered to someone or to the giving of a lower priority
to a person with a disability in lists of applicants for accommodation.
Subclause 2 contains provisions relating to making unlawful discrimination
in relation to the denial of access or the limiting of access to benefits associated
with the accommodation or by evicting the person or by subjecting the person
to any other detriment. Subparagraph 2(d) contains a special provision to allow
the person with a disability a right to make alterations to accommodation so
as to make that accommodation more accessible to the person with disability.
That person is able to make these alterations at their own
expense and are able to restore the premises to their former condition
if and when the person with disability were to leave those premises.
Subclause 3 provides a number of exemptions in relation to this
provision.
Accommodation is not covered;
a) Where accommodation is provided by a person who lives on the
premises or whose near relative lives on the premises and where accommodation
is offered for no more than three other persons;
b) The accommodation is provided by a charitable or voluntary organisation
for people with disabilities;
c) The accommodation is provided by such bodies to people who have
a particular disability and the person concerned doesn't have that particular
disability.
d) Where to provide the accommodation
to a person with a disability would impose unjustifiable hardship on the person
providing the accommodation.
This provision provides that it will
be unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability or any of that
person's relatives or associates in relation to the selling or other dealings
in land. This will include the terms and conditions on which dealings in land
are offered to the person with a disability.
The only exception to this provision
is provided in subclause 2 which provides that it
is not unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability in relation
to the actual giving of land or distribution of land under a will.
Clause 27
- Clubs and incorporated associations
This clause makes it unlawful for
a club or an incorporated association to discriminate against people with disabilities
in relation to accepting people as members, by the terms and conditions of the
membership offered to a person who isn't a member of the club on the basis of
the person's disability, by refusing to accept the person's application of membership
or by the terms and conditions on which the membership is offered.
It is also unlawful to deny access
to the member or limit the member's access to certain benefits or to deprive
the member of any other terms of membership.
The term 'club' is defined in Clause
41 of the Bill to mean an association of persons, which is either incorporated
or not, which has come together for social, recreational, cultural, political,
sporting, athletic or any other lawful purpose. The club must maintain its facilities
at least in part from its own funds.
Subclause 3 provides the only exemption in this section. It essentially
provides that the club or incorporated association is not required to provide
benefits and the like in a special manner to a person with disability where
that would impose on the club an unjustifiable hardship.
The clause provides that it is unlawful
for a person to discriminate against a person with a disability or their relatives
or associates by excluding them from sporting activities. Sporting activities
include administration and coaching.
Subclause 3 sets out three exemptions in relation to this provision.
First, it is not unlawful to discriminate where someone is not reasonably capable
of performing the actions that are necessary for the sport.
Second, where persons are chosen,
(essentially on their ability to do the sport) to participate in a sport by
means which are reasonable and third, where a sport is conducted solely for
people with a particular disability and the person concerned does not have that
disability.
Example, A, which is a sporting
association refuses to allow B to participate in a sporting competition such
as archery. This is on the basis that B has a mobility disability. B does however
have full use of the upper part of the body and can undertake all aspects of
this particular sport. In this case A discriminates against B unlawfully.
Clause 29
- Administration of Commonwealth laws and programs
This provision sets out that anyone
who carries out functions or performs duties under Commonwealth laws or under
Commonwealth programs or in any way administers those programs or laws, must
not discriminate against a person on the basis of that person's disability.
The clause also relates to discrimination against a person's relatives or associates.
Clause 30
- Request for Information
This provision makes it unlawful for
a person to ask a person with a disability questions which would not normally
be asked of a person who is in similar circumstances but does not have that
disability.
Clause 31
‑ Disability Standards
This provision is designed to provide
a power for the Government in the future to enact certain standards in relation
to, for example, the delivery of certain services for people with disabilities.
It is intended that the provision of the standards would not occur without considerable
consultation and in accordance with Clause 132, the comments of relevant State and Territory Government
Ministers would have to be taken into account before regulations were passed
setting up standards.
This clause also sets out the areas
in which disability standards could be enacted. They relate to the employment
of persons with disabilities, their education, their
accommodation, the provision of public transportation services and facilities
by the persons as set out in paragraph (d) and in the administration of Commonwealth
programs in respect of persons with disabilities.
Clause 32
- Unlawful to contravene disability standards
This clause provides that it is unlawful
for a person not to abide by a disability standard established under Clause
31 and by making it unlawful this provides for a person to lodge a complaint
under Clause 69 of this Act.
Clause 33
- Division 5 not to apply to disability standards
It is intended that disability standards
will be abided by notwithstanding any exemptions that might exist as set out
in Division 5 of this Part.
Clause 34 - This Part not to apply if persons act in accordance
with disability standards.
Disability standards are intended
to be a standard which if abided by would protect a person from any other action
under this Bill relating to action covered by those standards.. It will not therefore be possible for a person to lodge
a complaint alleging that someone has done an act where that person has done
that act in accordance with a disability standard.
Division 3 ‑ Discrimination
involving harassment
Clause 35
- Harassment in Employment
This provision makes it unlawful for
a person to harass another person in relation to that person's disability in
areas of employment that will include employees, commission agents, and contract
workers. Harassment is not separately defined and would be determined on a case
by case basis. The provision is not intended to cover the odd unfeeling comment
or joke.
Clause 36
- Harassment in Employment: Relatives and Associates with Disabilities
This clause relates to harassment
against persons who are the relatives and associates of people with disabilities
in relation to employment. It covers similar ground to that covered in Clause
35. As with Clause 35 this provision is intended to cover harassment in the
areas of employment that are covered in Clauses 15,
16 and 17.
Clause 37
- Harassment in Education
This clause makes it unlawful for
a member of the staff of an educational institution to harass a person on the
basis of their disability where that person is either a student or is seeking
admission to that institution.
Clause 38
- Harassment in Education: Relatives and Associates with Disabilities
This provision is similar to Clause
37. However, in this case the provision makes harassment unlawful in relation
to relatives and associates of a person with a disability in relation to education.
Clause 39
- Harassment in Relation to the Provision of Goods and Service
This provision makes it unlawful for
someone to harass a person who has a disability and who wants to acquire goods
or services or to make use of the facilities provided.
Clause 40
- Harassment in Relation to Provision of Goods and Services: Relatives and Associates
with Disabilities
This provision essentially is the
same provision as Clause 39 although as with previous clauses in this division
it provides that it is unlawful to discriminate in relation to the provision
of goods and services on the basis that a person is a relative or an associate
of a person with a disability.
Division 4 ‑ Offences
Clause 41
- Unlawful act not offence unless expressly so provided
This provision makes it clear that
unless this legislation expressly says so, none of the acts which are made unlawful
by this Part are offences. So although the provisions of Divisions 1, 2 and
3 of Part 2 make certain actions unlawful, those actions are not to be regarded
as offences of a criminal nature.
This provision provides that it is
an offence for a person to victimize someone where they have either taken some
form of action under this Bill or have indicated that they propose to take some
form of action.
Subclause 2 generally defines what it is to victimize another person
and, basically it is where another person either treats someone unfavourably
or threatens to treat them unfavourably as a result of either the bringing of
an action or proposing to bring an action. Subclause 2 sets out just what is meant by the taking of action
or the proposing of taking an action under the Bill. Essentially it relates
to the bringing of a complaint or the lodging of proceedings of any sort.
It also covers the giving of information,
attending a conference, attending as a witness, the assertion of any rights
given under this Act, or the making of an allegation that a person has done
an act unlawful under this Part. It also includes victimisation where a person
proposes to take such action.
Example:
A dismisses B from employment on the basis that B has made a complaint against
A under this Act alleging that B was discriminated against. It does not matter
whether or not B's complaint could be proven. The dismissal of B by A in the
circumstances would be an offence under this provision.
Clause 43
- Offence to incite doing of unlawful acts through offences
This clause provides for it to be
a criminal offence where someone actively encourages someone else to do something
which is made unlawful by this Part or that is actually made an offence by this
Part. The provision also covers the giving of assistance to someone or promoting
the doing of acts generally. This can be by either financial assistance or by
any other form of assistance.
This provision makes it unlawful for
someone to advertise that they had the intention of doing an act that is unlawful
under this Part.
'Advertisement' includes almost any
form of advertisement or notice, whether public or not, and this is set out
in subclause 2.
Example: A advertises for a person
to work in a shop selling clothes. A indicates that persons who are HIV positive
need not apply. In the circumstances A is guilty of an offence under this clause.
Division 5 ‑ Exemptions
This clause is designed to provide
an exemption for someone who does an act which might be otherwise unlawful under
this Part where that action is designed to either assist people who have a disability
to obtain greater equality of opportunity or is designed to give people with
disabilities access to facilities, services or opportunities or to provide them
grants or benefits to meet their special needs.
The provision is designed to allow
for a person to rely on the exemption in relation to providing for the special
needs of people with disabilities in the areas of employment, education, accommodation,
clubs, sport, the provision of goods, services, facilities or land, the administration
of Commonwealth laws and programs and where that action is designed to meet
the special needs of people with disabilities in relation to their capacity
to live independently.
This provision would exempt for example,
a government program which was designed to assist certain people with disabilities
to either gain or to return to employment or to assist them to live more independently.
Clause 46
- Superannuation and insurance
This clause recognizes that superannuation
and insurance are provided on the basis of an assessment of if and when a payment
is likely to be made by the insurance and superannuation provider to the person
who seeks insurance and superannuation. In many cases it is likely that for
persons with disabilities payments in relation to, for example, life insurance,
might well be made sooner than to members of the general community who do not
have that particular disability.
This section therefore provides that
it is not unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of that person's
disability in relation to the offer to that person of a form of insurance or
superannuation which is set out in this clause. That discrimination is only
permitted where it is based on either actuarial or statistical data which, in
all the circumstances, it is reasonable to rely on, and the discrimination is
reasonable having regard to all other relevant factors as well.
Where there is no such data available
and it cannot reasonably be obtained, discrimination will not be unlawful if
it is reasonable to discriminate having regard to all other relevant factors.
Subclause 2 of this clause is similar to subclause 1 but in this case relates to the actual terms and
conditions of the insurance or superannuation offered.
Clause 47
- Acts done under statutory authority
This section is designed to allow
for certain actions which are done in reliance on existing law to not be unlawful
even when they might otherwise discriminate against a person with a disability.
Subclause 1 of this clause indicates that it is not unlawful to
discriminate against a person with a disability where that is necessary to comply
with a determination or decision of HREOC, an order of a court or an order or
award of an industrial tribunal but only where that order or award relates to
the payment of wages or salary for a person who would otherwise be eligible
for a disability support pension under the Social Security Act 1991 where those
wages are determined by a person's capacity to work.
Subclause 2 recognizes that there will be some laws which will
continue to discriminate against people with disabilities notwithstanding the
provisions of this Bill. In particular it is not intended that this Bill would
override the provisions of State legislation in certain areas, for example mental
health. This subclause allows for regulations to be
made setting out legislation that will be exempted from the operations of this
Bill.
So as to allow for laws which do discriminate
to be modified, subclause 3 provides that where someone
operates in accordance with an existing law this Part does not make that action
unlawful. This provision lasts for only 3 years from the day that Clause 47
comes into force.
Clause 48
- Infectious disease
It is not intended that this Act will
interfere with the operation of public health laws which relate to the control
of infectious diseases. Where it is reasonably necessary to discriminate
against a person with a disability so as to protect public health then this
clause does not make such discrimination unlawful.
Clause 49
- Exemption for charities
This exemption makes it clear that
it is not unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities in an instrument
that is intended to confer charitable benefits on people who have a disability
or a particular disability. A charitable instrument is defined to include a
will or other document.
Clause 50
- Telecommunications
This clause is designed to provide
a time limited exemption for a carrier or a supplier of a service under the
Telecommunications Act 1991. It essentially means that the Telecommunications
Act 1991 insofar as it relates to the provision of additional services to people
with disabilities is not affected by the provisions of this legislation for
a period of three years.
This provision is designed to allow
for current reforms presently underway in the telecommunications industry to
take place without this legislation having effect on those reforms. At the end
of the three year period those service providers will be covered by the legislation
in the same way as other service providers.
Clause 51
- Pensions and allowances
This clause is designed to ensure
that in relation to pensions and allowances a person's entitlement is as set
out in the legislation which provides for those pensions and allowances and
that entitlement is not affected by the coming in to force of this Bill.
The clause sets out Commonwealth laws
under which pensions and allowances are paid and makes it clear that where there
are discriminatory provisions in those Acts, this legislation does not affect
those provisions.
This clause is designed to ensure
that the operations of the Migration Act 1958 or the regulations made under
that Act are not affected by the coming into force of this Bill.
Clause 53
- Combat duties and peace keeping
This provision is designed to exempt
the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) from the provisions of this Act in relation
to the employment, engagement or appointment by the ADF of people where they
may be engaged in what are called combat duties, combat related duties or peace
keeping services or where they might be in particular support roles for forces
engaged in such duties or service. There is also a provision to allow for combat
duties and combat related duties to be set out in regulations. Those duties
are not at this stage defined by this Act.
Clause 54
- Peace keeping services by the AFP
This provision is designed to exempt
the Australian Federal Police (AFP) from the provisions of this Act where the
AFP is selecting someone to perform peace keeping duties such as those presently
being undertaken by the AFP in .
Clause 55
- Commission may grant exemptions
This clause provides a means for the
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to grant a temporary administrative
exemption from the operations of this Part where an application for such an
exemption is made. This might be necessary m some areas where considerable adjustment
may need to be made as a result of this Act. The Commission is able to grant
the exemptions on such terms and conditions as it sees fit.
The exemptions are to be granted for
a period not exceeding five years. The Commission is able to grant a further
exemption on an application being made.
Clause 56
- Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
This provision provides an opportunity
for a person affected by a decision of the Commission in relation to temporary
exemptions to seek a review of those decisions by the Administrative Appeals
Tribunal.
Clause 57
- Notice of decisions to be published
So as to allow the community at large
to be aware of temporary exemptions the Commission is required by this clause
to publish in the Commonwealth Government Gazette a notice of the making of
a decision under Clause 55.
That notice must set out the findings
of the Commission and refer to evidence on which those findings were based and
give the reason for making those decisions. It will also be necessary for the
notice to indicate that an application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
may be made for review of such a decision.
Clause 58
- Effect of exemptions
This clause makes it clear that actions
taken in accordance with exemptions granted by the Commission are not unlawful
under other provisions of this Act.
Concerns were expressed by certain
service providers that this legislation would have the affect of imposing considerable
additional upfront costs to those providers. Whilst this has not been the experience
of other jurisdictions, such as the States, with legislation of this sort, it
was thought appropriate to allow service providers an opportunity to put in
place longer term plans which would indicate how that service provider intended
to overcome perceived discriminatory practices.
This Part sets out the provisions
which relates to these plans,
A service provider is basically defined
as anyone who provides goods or services or makes facilities available (Clause
58). The plans are entirely voluntary and no penalty is provided for a service
provider which does not prepare such a plan (Clause 59).
If a service provider does prepare
such a plan, however, it must contain certain measures which are set out in
Clause 60. The service provider is not limited to those provisions and may include
other matters in the plan if it chooses to do so (Clause 61). A plan can also
be amended at any time (Clause 62). If the service provider wishes to have the
plan considered by HREOC when it is making a determination then it will need
to be provided to HREOC (Clause 63).
HREOC will consider such a plan when
it makes a determination in relation to unjustifiable hardship as set out in
Clause 11. So as to allow for the public to be aware of the action plans there
is provision to require HREOC to sell copies of the plans to the public (Clause
64).
Action plans are able to be lodged
by service providers and this clause sets out just what is meant by a service
provider.
This clause is self‑explanatory.
Clause 61
- Provisions of action plans
Whilst it is not compulsory for a
service provider to draw up and implement an action plan, if in fact a plan
is drawn up there are a number of things that it must contain. These are set
out in this clause. They include the devising of policies and programs which
are designed to achieve the objects of this Act set out in Clause 3, communication
of those policies and programs to people working within the service provider,
the review of practices so as to eliminate discriminatory practices and a number
of other matters set out in that clause.
Clause 62
- Action plans may have other provisions
This clause simply states that whilst
action plans must have provisions which are set out in Clause 61 they may have
other provisions within them provided they are not inconsistent with the objects
set out in clause 3.
Clause 63
- Amendment of action plans
This Clause is self‑explanatory.
Clause 64
- Copy of action plan to be given to Commission
This provision gives a service provider
a discretion to provide a copy of the action plan to
the Commission. Whilst the provision does not oblige the service provider to
give the Commission a copy of the plan the action plans are able to be taken
into account by the Commission when considering the issue of unjustifiable hardship
as defined in Clause 11 of this Act. If the plan is not given to the Commission
then it cannot be considered by the Commission.
Clause 65
- Commission to sell action plans to public
So as to make publicly available information
about action plans this provision requires the Commission to sell action plans
that it gets under Clause 64.
Part 4:Inquiries
and Civil Proceedings
This Part sets out the mechanism by
which complaints may be made under the Bill and how those complaints are to
be dealt with by HREOC. The part also sets out in detail the functions under
this Bill of both HREOC and the Disability Discrimination Commissioner established
under Part 6.
The mechanism established under this
part is based on similar provisions in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.
The process essentially requires the
Disability Discrimination Commissioner acting on behalf of HREOC to attempt
to conciliate a complaint (Clause 67 and 70). Where such conciliation between
the parties is not possible the complaint is referred to HREOC which must then
hold an inquiry and make a determination or other decision as set out in Clause
102.
HREOC has broad functions under this
legislation which are set out in Clause 66. The Commissioner is primarily required
to carry out the function of the Commission in relation to the initial investigation
and conciliation of complaints.
A complaint is made to the Commission
under Clause 68 and may be made in relation to any matter made unlawful under
Part 2 and by means of Clause 65 may also include complaints alleging action
which could be an offence under Clauses 42, 43 and 44.
This Part also sets out how an inquiry
by the Commissioner is to be carried out and provides the Commissioner with
the necessary powers to investigate and to try and conciliate complaints. These
powers are set out in Division 2.
If the Commissioner is unable to settle
the matter by conciliation then the Commissioner must then refer the
matter for a more formal inquiry by HREOC. (Clause 76)
The Bill then goes on to set out how
inquiries before HREOC will be carried out.
The primary focus for the resolution
of disputes under this legislation is by the processes of conciliation. There
is power in this Part for the Commission to again attempt to resolve a complaint
by conciliation and to attempt an amicable settlement notwithstanding that the
Commissioner may already have been unable to achieve conciliation in the earlier
inquiry.
The hearing and taking of evidence
before the Commission does not have to be done in the same way as before a court
and the Commission has a broad discretion about the way it receives evidence
and how it conducts the inquiry but it must conduct the inquiry with as little
formality as possible (Clause 98).
The Bill makes provision for a person
who wants to rely on one of the exceptions appearing in Part 2, (for example
that they will suffer unjustifiable hardship if a particular accommodation is
required), to bring to the Commission evidence which, if not contradicted by
other evidence, might lead the Commission to a decision that the exemption should
apply. This is consistent with the usual principles that a person who is in
the best position to have knowledge of, for example that person's financial
circumstances, has an obligation to bring that evidence to the court before
the exemption can be considered. The overall legal burden of proof, however,
will remain with the person who actually makes the complaint. (Clause 99)
Once the Commission has held its inquiry
then it has a number of options as to what it does in relation to the complaint.
These options are set out in Clause 103.
The Commission is unable to make determinations
which are binding on the parties concerned. This is because the Commission is
an administrative body rather than a court and under the Constitution it is
not possible to give a body that is not a court the powers of a court such as
the powers to make binding determinations on people.
The only way that a determination
of the Commission can be enforced is for the Commission or the complainant to
go the Federal Court to seek to have that court make a binding order on the
parties. (Clause 104)
Division 1 ‑ Preliminary
This clause makes it clear that in
relation to this Part and only this Part, where there is mention of an act that
is unlawful that is meant to include a reference to an act that is an offence under Division
4 of Part 2. This provision has the effect of allowing for a person who is the
victim of actions which might be offences under Division 4, for example, in
relation to victimization to also bring a complaint against the person who may
have been doing the victimization. This does not affect any proceedings which
may be taken in the criminal courts in relation to that action which may be
an offence.
Clause 69 of the Act provides a right
to make a complaint in relation to any matter that is unlawful.
Clause 67
- Functions of Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
This clause sets out the functions
that are conferred on HREOC by this Bill. Two of the functions are:
(1). To inquire
into complaints relating to matters in Part 2 and to try and conciliate those
complaints;
(2).To inquire into and make determinations on matters the Minister
or the Commissioner might refer to the Commission. There are also a number of
other functions similar to those provided for the Commission in relation to
other Commonwealth Anti-Discrimination legislation.
There are a number of special provisions
in this Bill, in particular, to a function conferred on the Commission in relation
to the development of disability standards and the monitoring of the implementation
and operation of those standards.
Paragraph 1(f) authorizes the Commission
to receive action plans that are made in accordance with Part 3. The Commission
has broad powers to examine laws or proposed laws which might be inconsistent
with this Bill or to investigate and report on matters and on action that should
be taken by the Commonwealth on matters relating to discrimination on the ground
of disability generally.
Subclause 3 makes it clear that the Commissioner is not able to
participate in an inquiry by the Commission under this part. This is because
the Commissioner will have already been involved in the attempt to conciliate
the complaint.
Clause 68
- Functions of Commissioner
This clause makes it clear that the
Commissioner's main function is to inquire into complaints lodged under Part
2 and to attempt to conciliate those complaints.
This clause provides how and in what
form a complaint alleging that some action that is unlawful under Part 2 has
taken place can be lodged with the Commission. Essentially it can be lodged
by a person, or by a person aggrieved, or by a person on behalf of others who
might be aggrieved. These provisions permit complaints, for example by trade
unions, representative or advocacy organisations.
Subclause 2 requires the Commission to provide assistance to someone
who wants to make a complaint under this clause. This is designed to put an
obligation on the Commission to help a person to make a complaint where that
person is unable to actually make a complaint, for example because of their
disability.
Clause 70
- Commissioner taken to be a complainant
This provision provides that where
the Commissioner refers something to the Commission not arising in the course
of dealing with a complaint then the Commissioner becomes the complainant for
the purposes of determining just who is a party to inquiry under Clause 84 of
this Act.
The clause also refers to a number
of technical details relating to matters which are referred to the Commissioner
by the Minister under Clause 78.
Division 2 ‑ Inquiries by
the Commissioner
Clause 71
- Inquiries by Commissioner
This provision essentially sets out
that the Commissioner must inquire, at least initially, into matters that are
referred to the Commissioner by the Commission. These would normally be complaints
but they may also be matters that the Commission itself refers to the Commissioner
whether there was a complaint or not.
The Commissioner may decide not to
further inquire into a complaint for a number of reasons set out in subclause 2 of this clause. They include;
(a) that
the actions are not unlawful under this Act;
(b) that
the complainant or the person aggrieved does not desire the action to continue;
(c) that
a complaint is more than 12 months old;
(d) that
a complaint is trivial, vexatious, etc.;
(e) that
the matters have been adequately dealt with elsewhere;
(f) that
there is some other remedy which would be more suitable;
(g) that
the actual subject matter of the complaint had been dealt with by the Commission
or by other statutory authority; or
(h) that
the Commissioner thinks that there is another authority which could deal with
the matter more effectively.
Where the Commissioner decides not
to inquire into a complaint this clause contains provisions requiring the Commissioner
to give notice to all the complainants indicating that they have a right to
seek to have the complaint referred for further consideration by the President
of the Commission under Clause 101.
Clause 72
- Application for interim determination under Section 102
This clause gives the Commissioner
power to apply to the Commission for interim determination under Clause 102
where is necessary to do so, so as to preserve the positions of the parties
pending the completion of the inquiry by the Commissioner into the complaint.
Clause 73
- Power to obtain information or documents
The Commissioner, by this clause,
is given broad powers to seek and obtain all information or documents which
might be relevant to an inquiry that he or she is undertaking.
The Commissioner is able to give written
notice to a person to require them to attend and produce such relevant information
and documents as the notice sets out.
Subclause 2 sets out what the Commissioner is able to do in relation
to those documents once he or she has got them ‑ including taking extracts
from them and keeping them for such period as is necessary for the inquiry.
Paragraph 2(c) provides a right for
a person to inspect the documents, who would otherwise have a right to look
at the documents if the Commissioner did not have them, during all reasonable
times notwithstanding that the Commissioner now has possession of them.
Clause 74
- Direction to persons to attend compulsory conference
This clause provides the Commissioner
with power to call a compulsory conference and to direct that certain people
actually attend that conference.
Subclause 2 indicates that the person who has made the complaint
and the person who is actually alleged to have done the act must receive a notice
to attend and the Commissioner can require any other persons who he or she believes
may be able to assist in the conciliation of the matter to also attend. There
is also provision for a person to be paid by the Commonwealth for their attendance
at a conference.
In the notice the Commissioner sends
he or she may also require a person to produce any documents that he or she
believes might be of assistance at the conference.
Clause 75
- Compulsory conference
This provision deals with a number
of minor matters that relate to the conduct of a conference. In keeping with
the primary purpose of trying to conciliate complaints this clause requires
that conferences should be held in private.
Subclause 4 of this clause indicates that normally a person would
not be represented by another person, for example a lawyer, at a conference.
The person who presides at a conference has the power to allow people to be
represented if he or she thinks it is necessary. The provision allows for a
person with a disability to be represented.
Clause
76 - Reference of matters to the Commissioner
Where the Commissioner is unable to
settle the matter by conciliation after he or she has made an effort to do so,
then the Commissioner under this clause must send the matter back to the Commission
together with a report on inquiries the Commissioner has made.
To make sure that people feel free
to be open with what they say in a conference or in conciliation proceedings
generally, subclause 2 indicates that the report of
the Commissioner is not to have anything in it which records what was actually
said or was actually done by the parties in the course of the conciliation process.
Subclause 3 makes it clear that evidence of anything said or done
(like a transcript or notes) cannot be used in other proceedings under the Act
in relation to the complaint.
Division 3 ‑ Inquiries by
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Clause 77
- Minister may appoint persons to participate in inquiries
This provision provides the Minister
with the power to appoint people to assist the Commission in carrying out inquiries
under this Act.
Under subclause 2 a person who is appointed by the Minister to help
assist the Commission can participate in the actual holding of an inquiry at
the request of the Commission.
The clause indicates that the person
who is appointed shall hold the appointment for a period of up to 5 years but
can be reappointed.
The clause does not set out any particular qualifications that a person must
have before they can be appointed under this clause.
A
Subclause 5 indicates that the Minister can enter into whatever
agreement might be necessary with a Minister of a State so that a person who
is a judge or magistrate or holds some form of office of that sort in a State
or a Territory can participate in an inquiry in accordance with this clause.
Subclause 7 in this part indicates that a person who is appointed
under this clause and holds some other office in the Commonwealth retains that
office and any other benefits that may go with that office even though the person
is appointed to HREOC under this clause.
Clause
78 - Reference of matter to the Commission by the Minister.
Under this clause the Minister is
given broad power to refer matters to the Commission which he or she believes
should be inquired into as a complaint.
Clause 79
- Inquiries into complaints
This clause requires that the Commission,
once matters are referred either by the Commissioner or by the Minister, must
actually hold an inquiry into the complaint.
Subclause 2 makes a qualification to that requirement by indicating
that the Commission must not hold an inquiry into a complaint or will have to
discontinue an inquiry they have already started, if the complainant or the
person aggrieved indicates that they no longer want to go ahead with the complaint
or where the Minister says to the Commission that he or she no longer wishes
a matter that was referred to the Commission under clause 78 to be investigated.
Clause 80
- Exercise of inquiry powers by Commission
This clause provides that for the
purposes of holding an inquiry into the complaint or a matter referred to the
Commission, the inquiry can either be carried out by a single person if that
person is legally qualified or by two or more members of the Commission providing
that at least one of them is legally qualified. There must be a legally qualified
person who actually presides over the inquiry.
Subclause 3 defines what is meant by a legally qualified person.
Clause 81
- Single Inquiry in relation to several complaints
Where two or any number of complaints
arise that involve the same set of circumstances the Commission may decide to
hold only one inquiry into all of those complaints.
Clause 82
- Joinder of parties by Commission
This clause provides the Commission
with the power to bring another party into the proceedings if at any time during
those proceedings it becomes clear to the Commission that the party would assist
the Commission in its inquiry.
Clause 83
- Notice of inquiry and rights of parties
This clause requires that the Commission
must give a notice of an inquiry to all those who are party to an inquiry. This
would normally be the person who makes the complaint and the person against
whom the complaint is made. The notice must set out the time and place at which
the inquiry is to be held.
While the Commission is not actually
bound by the strict rules of evidence observed by a court this clause makes
it clear that the Commission must give each of the parties a fair opportunity
to call or hear evidence and to be able to question witnesses on the evidence
that has been given to the Commission.
Subclause 2 provides that if a party does not appear after being
given a notice then the Commission can hold an inquiry without them.
Clause 84
- Parties to an inquiry
This clause sets out just who are
regarded as the parties to an inquiry. This would usually be the person who
makes the complaint and the person against whom the complaint is made but there
may also be persons who the Commission has joined as a party
under Clause 82 or someone who wishes to be heard at an inquiry and to
whom the Commission gives permission to appear.
Clause 85
- Right of appearance and representation
Normally it would be expected that
a party to an inquiry would actually appear personally at an inquiry. However,
in relation to some people with disabilities this would not be possible and
as a result this clause sets out that a person with a disability may be represented
by an agent. The clause also provides that where one of the parties is, for
example a company, then someone who is an officer or employee of the company
or an agent can appear on behalf of that company.
Subclause 2 provides that a person can be represented by a lawyer
or an agent where the Commission gives permission for that to happen or has
made an arrangement under Clause 88 for a lawyer to appear at an inquiry to
help the Commission.
Subclause 3 of clause 85 indicates that only lawyers are entitled
to be paid any fee for representing a party at an inquiry.
Clause 86
- Inquiries may be held in private
This clause in subclause 1, indicates that in general
it is expected that inquiries by the Commission under this Bill would be held
in public.
Subclause 2 however, gives the Commission power (where it is appropriate)
to actually hold an inquiry in private.
Clause 87
- Commission may prohibit publication of evidence
This clause provides the Commission
with the power to make orders that stop or restrict the releasing of either
evidence or documents or information given to the Commission.
This is to provide a power to protect
particularly confidential information that might be given to the Commission
whilst it is holding an inquiry.
Clause 88
- Counsel assisting Commission
This clause provides that the Commission
may make arrangements for legal counsel to appear at an inquiry to help the
Commission. In this case the legal counsel is actually under the control of
the Commission and does not appear for any of the parties. Depending on the
circumstances, legal counsel may be asked by the Commission to help any of the
parties to the Commission as necessary in the course of an inquiry.
Clause 89
- Determination of representative complaints
This clause requires that where it
looks to the Commission that a complaint could be regarded as a representative
complaint then the Commission must decide before an inquiry goes any further
whether that complaint is a representative complaint.
Clause 90
- Matters to be considered in determination of representative complaints
This clause sets out the factors that
the Commission has to take into account when it decides whether a complaint
should be regarded as a representative complaint.
Under subclause 1 the Commission first has to determine that the
complaint was made in good faith.
Under subclause 2 the matters which the Commission has to take into
account when determining whether in fact the complaint was made on behalf of
others in good faith are set out. They basically are (as set out in paragraph
(2) (a) )
(i) that the complainant is actually a member of the class of persons
who could be affected by the conduct of the person they are complaining about;.
(ii) that
the complainant has in fact been affected by that conduct;
(iii) that
there are so many people who might be affected that it would not be possible
to join them all as parties to the inquiry;
(iv) that
there are issues of law or fact which affect an members of the class of persons;
(v) that
the complaint is typical of complaints that could be made by other members of
the class if they all made those complaints;
(vi) that
if there were lots of complaints and they were dealt with one by one then it
would be possible that there might be different results for different individuals
notwithstanding that they were all similarly affected;
(vii) that
the actual person complained of (called the respondent) has acted on grounds
which actually affect or apply to the class as a whole and not just to one or
two individuals.
Under paragraph 2(b) of this clause
there is provided a power for the Commission to treat a complaint as a representative
complaint where the Commission believes the overall justice of the matter means
that a matter should be dealt with as a representative complaint even if all
the requirements set out in paragraph (2) (a) have not been actually met.
This clause provides the Commission
with a procedure to deal with a matter which might affect a lot of people by
a single inquiry and without actually having to call upon each of those people
to attend or be involved in the proceedings.
Clause 91
- Amendment of representative complaint
This clause provides that the Commission
may amend a complaint to make it into a representative complaint if it becomes
clear that it would be better for the complaint to be so dealt with. The Commission
is able, under this clause, to increase or reduce, or otherwise alter, the class
of persons that the complaint is lodged on behalf of.
Subclause 2 also provides that the Commission may amend a complaint
which has been wrongly made as a representative complaint by basically taking
out the description of the class of people or the names of people if those names
have been put in the complaint.
Clause 92
- Ordinary complaints not precluded by representative complaint
This clause gives a person who might
otherwise be a member of the class about which a representative complaint has
been lodged to also make an individual complaint.
Clause 93
- Resolution of complaint by conciliation
The primary mechanism of this legislation
for the resolution of disputes between parties is by conciliation, that is by trying to reach an amicable settlement
between the parties. This clause gives the Commission power to try to resolve
a complaint by conciliation even if the Commissioner has already failed to do
that. Under paragraph 93(b) the Commission is obliged
to try and reach an amicable settlement of a complaint even when a formal inquiry
is underway.
Clause 94
- Evidence and findings in other proceedings
This clause gives the Commission power
to take evidence from other courts or tribunals that the Commission thinks might
be helpful to its inquiries. Paragraph (c) gives the Commission power to take
in evidence the report of the Commissioner providing that that report has been
made available to all the other parties to the inquiry.
Clause 95
- Powers of the Commission to take evidence
This clause gives the Commission similar
powers to a court to take evidence and summon witnesses, etc. The Commission
is given power to take evidence on oath or affirmation and the power to order
people to actually appear before the Commission to give evidence and to produce
documents.
Subclause 3 gives a person who is a party to proceedings the right
to call a witness and under subclause 4 that witness
can be examined, cross‑examined and reexamined.
Clause 96
- Fees for witnesses
This clause gives a person a right
to be paid for that person's attendance at a hearing where that person has been
summoned by the Commission. The fees are to be set out in regulations.
Where a person is summoned to appear
at the request of one of the parties that party must make payment of the fees
and allowances, but where the Commission summons the person or, in any other
case the person is summonsed to appear, the Commonwealth pays.
Subclause 3 gives the Commission discretion to have the Commonwealth
pay the fees even where a person is summonsed to appear at the request of a
particular party.
Clause 97
- Retention and copying of documents
This clause is self‑explanatory.
Clause 98
- Applications of rules of evidence
This clause makes it clear that the
Commission is to operate as informally as is possible, consistent with the need
to determine the matters that it has before it.
For these reasons the Commission is
not bound by the usual rules of evidence that bind courts and is able to inform
itself on any matter that arises before the Commission in the manner it sees
fit.
Under paragraph 98(1)(c) the Commission is able to give directions concerning the
procedures which have to be followed at an inquiry that would help to reduce the cost and delay of an inquiry.
Subclause 98(2) provides the legally qualified member who presides
at an inquiry with the power to decide on any questions which may arise concerning
whether evidence should be heard by the Commission and also any other questions
of law or procedure that might arise during the inquiry.
Clause 99
- Consideration of exceptions and exemptions
This clause provides that before the
Commission is required to consider if the exemptions or exceptions that are
set out in the legislation apply when it is deciding on whether or not certain
action is unlawful under this Bill, the person who seeks to rely on this exception
or exemption must produce some credible evidence that the exception or exemption
may in fact apply in the particular case.
Example: A has made a complaint
against B alleging that B has discriminated against A on the basis that B would
not provide a ramp to allow A access to B's retail
store. If B wishes to rely on the exemption set out in Clause 11 concerning
imposing unjustifiable hardship then B will be required to provide evidence
as to its financial circumstances and the estimate of expenditure required before the Commission would have
to take account of the unjustifiable hardship provisions.
Clause
100 - Commission may dismiss trivial etc. complaints
This clause gives the Commission the
power to not proceed with a complaint if that complaint is
(a)trivial,
vexatious, etc.;
(b) the action
complained of is not unlawful under Part 2;
(c)if some
other remedy has been sought and the Commission decides the matter has been
satisfactorily dealt with;
(d) the Commission
thinks some other remedies more appropriate;
(e) the complaint
has already been dealt with by the Commissioner or by some other statutory authority;
(f) the Commission
thinks that the complaint could be better dealt with by some other statutory
authority.
Clause
101 - President may dismiss trivial. etc. complaints
referred under Subsection 71(5)
Under subclause 71(5) where a Commissioner has dismissed
a complaint on the basis that it was not appropriate for the Commissioner to
further inquire into the complaint for the reasons set out in subclause
71(2) then the complainant may ask that the matter be referred to the President
for further consideration.
Under paragraph 101(1)(b) the President may also dismiss a complaint referred to
him or her under provisions of Clause 71(5) for similar reasons as those by
which the Commission may dismiss a complaint under Clause 100.
There is provision in paragraph 101(1)(b)
for the President to dismiss a complaint that is described as stale and subclause
2 of this clause indicates that a complaint is stale where more than 12 months
has elapsed since the act that is being complained of was actually done.
Where the President does not dismiss
the complaint he or she refers it back to the Commissioner for further inquiry.
Clause
102 - Making interim determination
This clause gives the Commission power
either by application by a party to an inquiry, or by the Commissioner under
Clause 72, to make what are called interim determinations.
These determinations are basically
designed to stop things happening whilst the complaint is being dealt with which
might actually make the alleged damage to the complainant worse.
Subclause 2 indicates that as with any determination of the Commission,
these determinations are not binding on the parties.
Example:. A has made a complaint against B alleging that B has discriminated
against A in relation to B's proposed transfer of A to some other employment.
The Commission may either on the application of the Commissioner where he or
she is attempting to consider a complaint or on the application of A where an
inquiry is underway by the Commission make a determination calling on B not
to transfer A until the complaint has been dealt with.
Clause
103 - Determination or other decision of the Commission
Where the Commission has held its
inquiry then this clause sets out the options that the Commission has in relation
to finally dealing with a complaint. First, the complaint might actually be
dismissed.
Under paragraph 103(1)(b) where the Commission actually finds the complaint is a
valid complaint then the Commission has a number of options as to what it might
determine.
They are:
(i) to declare that the person against whom the complaint has been
made did an action that was unlawful under the Act and that person should not
do the action again or if it is ongoing, should stop;
(ii) declare that the person against whom the complaint was made
should actually do something to address the loss or damage that the action has
caused the person making the complaint;
(iii) declare that the person against whom the complaint has been
made should either employ or re‑employ the person; or
(iv) declare that money should be paid by way of compensation ‑
(this option is not available if the complaint was a representative complaint);
(v) declare
that the person against whom the complaint has been made should give the person
a promotion,
(vi) declare that the termination of a contract or an agreement
should be varied so as to compensate the person who made the complaint for loss
of damage they may have suffered; or
(vii) declare that notwithstanding that the complaint was a valid
complaint and had been made out that it was not appropriate for any further
action to be taken.
Subclause 2 of this clause indicates that the determinations, of
the Commission made in accordance with this clause are not binding. Subclause 3 gives the Commission power to set out any findings
on facts that are used to make the determination. The Commission is not obliged
to do this. Subclause 4 makes it clear that damages
can include damages for injury to a complainant's feelings or for humiliation
that the person might suffer.
Subclause 5 defines what is meant by complainant for the purposes
of the clause.
Clause
104 - Proceedings in the Federal Court
Because the determinations of the
Commission are not binding on the parties there needs to be provided a means
for those determinations to be enforced. This clause provides that means.
Under this clause either the Commission
or the person making the complaint can go to the Federal Court to ask that court
for an order to force a person against whom the determination has been made
to carry out that determination.
Subclause 2 of this clause makes it clear that the Federal Court
must be satisfied that the person against whom the complaint has been made has
actually done something which is unlawful under the Act.
The clause provides that the Federal
Court can make such orders as it otherwise has power to make.
Clause
105 - Assistance in proceedings before Commission
This clause provides that the Commission
may ask the Attorney‑General to give someone who makes a complaint or
someone against whom a complaint has been made assistance in relation to the
costs the person might have to bear as a result of an inquiry.
Subclause 2 of this clause gives the Attorney‑General power
to order that the Commonwealth, under whatever conditions the Attorney‑General
thinks are appropriate, provide financial assistance to those persons the Commission
has asked that assistance be provided for.
Clause
106 - Assistance in proceedings of the Federal Court
This clause is similar to Clause 105
but authorizes a person who wants to go to the Federal Court under Clause 104 to enforce the determination
of the Commission, or a
person who is a person against whom a determination has been made, to apply
to the Attorney‑General for the provision of legal or
financial assistance in connection with the proceedings.
Subclause 2 provides the Attorney‑General with the power
to order that assistance where he considers it appropriate.
This Part sets out a number of offences
which are basically designed to force parties to proceedings to abide by orders
made by the Commission or by the Commissioner in the course of inquiries. Without
these offences it would be difficult for the Commission and the Commissioner
to actually run inquiries under this Act. It would be possible for people against
whom complaints are made to, for example, simply to ignore requests for information
by the Commission without these provisions.
Clause 107
- Failure to provide actuarial data or statistical data
Under Clause 46 it is unlawful to
discriminate against people with disabilities in relation to the provision of
superannuation or insurance unless one of the exceptions set out under that
clause applies. One of those exceptions is where that discrimination is based
on actuarial data or statistical data on which it is reasonable to rely. For
the Commission to be able to determine whether it is reasonable to rely on the
actuarial data or statistical data it must have that data before it. This clause
gives the Commission the power, by giving a notice in writing to require someone
to present that data to the Commission Where that data is not presented and
there is no reasonable excuse for not presenting it then this clause provides
that the person is guilty of a criminal offence.
Subclause 2 indicates that subsection 4K(2) of the Commonwealth Crimes Act does not apply to this
section. That subsection essentially creates a separate offence for each day
that a person does not comply with a notice of a sort the Commission can give
under this clause. This would mean that for every day a person does not comply
they could be charged with a separate offence. By making it clear that S 4K(1) does not apply there will be only one offence rather
than a series of offences for each day an order is not complied with.
Clause 108
- Failure to attend
This clause makes it an offence not
to attend a conference where a person has been directed to do so by the Commissioner
under Clause 74. The clause provides that a person will, not be guilty of an
offence if they have a reasonable excuse for not attending.
Clause 109
- Failure to give information and produce documents
Similarly to Clause 108, this clause
provides an offence for failing to or refusing to give information or produce
documents without reasonable excuse when the Commissioner requires it under
Clauses 73, 74, 75. Subclause 2 makes it clear that
again subsection 4K(2) Commonwealth Crimes Act does not apply. The effect of this provision is explained in Clause 107 above.
Clause 110
- Offences in relation to Commission
For the Commission to be able to carry
out its work effectively there needs to be provided appropriate sanctions against
persons who either do not carry out summonses of the Commission to appear or
in other ways do not cooperate with the carrying out of an inquiry by the Commission.
This clause sets out those sanctions.
Subclause 110(1) makes it an offence for a person, without reasonable
excuse, to fail to attend or appear m response to a summons from the Commission.
Subclause 110(2) makes it an offence for a person,
without reasonable excuse, to fail to be sworn in or make affirmation as a witness
or to answer any questions or refuse to produce a document.
Subclause 110(3) deals with the actual conduct of an inquiry and
makes it an offence for a person to interrupt the inquiry or use insulting
language towards a member of the Commission. This subclause also contains a provision which makes it an offence
to publish evidence which goes against the direction that the Commission may
have given in accordance with Clause 87 or as a general offence create a disturbance
in or near where an inquiry is being held by the Commission or that the Commission
might be meeting for other reasons.
Clause 111
- Self-incrimination
To allow for the Commissioner to carry
out his or her function of attempting to conciliate a complaint to the fullest
extent possible this provision makes it clear that a person is not able to refuse
or fail to give or produce information or documents on the grounds that that
might incriminate them. However, the provision also makes it clear that any
information or document which is so produced or given is not admissible against
the person in any other proceedings whether civil or criminal before any court.
The only exception is in relation to proceedings for offences under Clause 112
which relates to the giving of false or misleading information.
The conduct of an inquiry by the Commission
is usually done in public and is a more formal process than that of the inquiries
only taken by the Commissioner. As a result, subclause 2 of this clause makes it clear that it is a reasonable
excuse for a person who might refuse to give information or produce documents
required under Clause 110 to refuse to do that on the basis that the giving
of that information or the production of a document will in fact tend to incriminate
the person.
Clause 112
- False or misleading information
The clause makes it an offence for
a person to give false or misleading information to any person who exercises
powers or performs functions under this Act where that person giving the information
knows that it is actually false or misleading.
Part 6 - Disability
Discrimination Commissioner
This Part sets out the provisions
which relate to the office of Disability Discrimination Commissioner whose primary function is to conciliate complaints on behalf of the
Commission that are laid under this Act. Essentially the Commissioner will be
appointed by the Governor‑General. There are provisions which relate to
the payment of salary and allowances to the Commissioner, how much leave the
Commissioner may get and how the Commissioner. is to
resign. There are also provisions relating to the grounds on which a person's
appointment as the Commissioner might be terminated, provisions relating to
not obtaining outside employment and provisions for an Acting Commissioner when
the Commissioner is unable to perform his or her duties.
Clause 113
- Disability Discrimination Commissioner
This clause creates the office of
Disability Discrimination Commissioner and indicates that the Commissioner is
to be appointed by the Governor‑General.
Clause 114
- Terms and conditions of appointment
This clause provides that the Commissioner
can hold office for up to 7 years and is also eligible for reappointment. The
Commissioner is to hold office on such terms and conditions as are set out in
the Bill but if they are not set out they can be determined by the Governor‑General.
Clause 115
- Remuneration of Commissioner
This clause provides that the Commissioner
is to be paid the amount that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal and
where in fact the Remuneration Tribunal does not make such a determination the
amount can be set out in regulations. In relation to allowances for the Commissioner,
these will be set out in the regulations.
This clause provides that the Remuneration
Tribunal shall determine the recreation leave entitlements of the Commissioner.
Subclause 2 provides that the Commissioner can be given other leave
by the Minister.
Clause 117
- Outside employment
Unless the Minister consents the Commissioner
is not able to engage in paid employment outside that of the Office of the Commissioner.
This clause is self‑explanatory.
Clause 119
- Termination of appointment
This clause sets out the reasons why
the Governor‑General may, or in some cases must, terminate the appointment
of the Commissioner.
Subclause 119(1) gives the Governor‑General a
discretion to dismiss the Commissioner where the Commissioner has engaged
in such misbehaviour that it is necessary to terminate his or her appointment
or the Commissioner has a disability which makes it impossible for the Commissioner
to perform the inherent requirements of the office.
Subclause 119(2) provides three reasons for which Governor‑General
must terminate the appointment of the Commissioner;
(a) where
the Commissioner becomes bankrupt or otherwise enters into agreements with his
or her creditors as set out in that subclause; or
(b) is absent
from his or her office unless he or she is on leave for 14 days out of 28 in
any twelve month period; or
(c) he or
she engages in other paid employment without the Minister's approval.
Clause 120 - Acting Commissioner
This clause provides that the Minister
can appoint a person to act as a Commissioner when there is either a vacancy
or the Commissioner is going to be away from Australia or is otherwise unable
to carry out his or her duties. Subclause 2 of this
clause makes it clear that the validity of something that a person might do
when acting cannot be called in to question because of a technical defect in
the acting appointment.
Part 7 ‑
Miscellaneous
This part brings together a number
of provisions that are necessary for the general operation of the legislation.
For example, there are provisions
which are designed to assist the Commission in its day to day operations such
as the power of delegation (Clause 121) and the protecting of the Commission
from civil actions (Clause 126). There are also provisions which essentially
make a body corporate, for example a company, liable for the actions of certain
people who act on behalf of the company (Clause 123). There is also a provision
to protect information given to the Commission which should not be disclosed
and a provision to allow regulations to provide for things necessary for the
operation of the legislation but which are not set out in the Bill like the
disability standards under Clause 31 (Clause 132).
This clause provides the Commission
with a broad power to delegate to the persons set out in that clause. The only
exception on delegation of powers under this clause by the Commission relates
to the powers necessary to perform the functions that the Commissioner carries
out on behalf of the Commission.
Subclause 2 also provides the Commissioner with a broad power of
delegation. The only difference is that the Commissioner cannot delegate his
or her functions to a member of the Commission.
Clause 122
- Liability of persons involved in unlawful acts or offences
This provision makes it clear that
a person who aids another person in any way or induces or assists them to do
an act which is unlawful under provisions set out in Part 2 is taken also to
have done the act for the purposes of this Act. That would mean a complaint
could be made against such a person in Clause 69.
Clause 123
- Conduct by directors, servants and agents
This provision establishes that in
relation to a body corporate (for example a company) where conduct is engaged
in by someone who has authority to represent that body such as a director or
a servant or an agent, and that person has a particular state of mind, then
that will be regarded as the state of mind of the body corporate.
Subclause 2 is in similar terms in relation to conduct engaged
in by someone acting on behalf of the body corporate and states that unless
the body corporate takes reasonable steps to stop the conduct then the body
corporate will be liable for the action as well as the individual.
Subclause 3 is similar to subclause 1
but in this case deals with the state of mind of a person who acts on behalf
of persons other than a body corporate, for example, an individual or group
of individuals.
Subclause 4 contains provisions similar to subclause 2 but in this case deals with conduct on behalf
of persons other than a body corporate.
Subclause 5 provides that where a person who is not a body corporate
is convicted of an offence because of the provisions of this clause (which basically
impute a state of mind or conduct to someone whether they had that state of
mind or not) then the person cannot be punished by imprisonment.
Subclause 6 indicates that for the purposes of this legislation,
when a person who acts on behalf of a body of persons at a hearing that person's
conduct will be regarded as conduct of the body itself. Subclause 7 defines what is meant by 'state of mind' in a
person. The term 'state of mind' is used in both subclauses 1 and 3.
Subclauses 8 and 9 are self‑explanatory.
Clause 124
- Commonwealth taken to be employer
This clause is self-explanatory.
Clause 125
- Unlawful Act not basis of civil action unless expressly so provided
This Act provides for a mechanism
for dealing with complaints about matters which are unlawful under this Act.
It is not intended that rights created under this Act give rise to civil actions
in the courts.
This clause provides that, notwithstanding
that an act is unlawful under the provisions of Part 2, no separate right of action is created unless there
is an express provision concerning such actions.
Subclause 2 refers to the offences created under Division 4 of
Part 2 and indicates that the for the purposes of of this clause they are to be regarded as unlawful acts. That
essentially means that the only action in relation to those matters is a complaint
under this legislation or the prosecution for an offence.
Clause 126
- Protection from civil actions
This provision provides a protection
for the Commission or members of the Commission or for the Commissioner or their
delegates in relation to any action or other proceedings for damages that might
happen in the course of their duties under this Act. Providing that action is
done or the admission is done in good faith then there is no right to take a
civil action against the person concerned.
Subclause 2 of Clause 126 indicates that there is no right of action
created where someone has suffered loss or damage from the making of a complaint
or the lodging of a submission or giving of information in any form under this
Act.
Clause 127
- Non-disclosure of private information
This clause provides a comprehensive
code dealing with the use of private information by the Commission, its members
and its staff.
Subclause 1 states that a person who has‑been or is, either
a member of the Commission or a Commissioner or a member of the staff of the
Commission must not, either directly or indirectly, keep records of or divulge
or communicate to other people information which has come to that person in
the course of their duties and which relates to the affairs of another person.
That includes making any use of that information whatsoever and a serious criminal
penalty is provided for so doing.
Subclause 2 provides that a court must not require a person to
divulge information that that person has received in the course of their duties
under this legislation unless this is necessary for the purposes of this Bill.
Subclause 3 provides an exemption for people in relation to the
making of records and the divulging of information if that is necessary for
proceedings under this legislation or in relation to any arrangement that might
be entered between the Commonwealth and a State body under section 16 of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986. That State body
would only be another antidiscrimination body. Subclause 4 also provides that where another Act specifically
requires someone to provide information then the provisions of subclause
2 do not prevent that information being divulged or communicated or produced.
Subclause 5 defines the word 'court'; and 'produce' is defined
to include giving access to information.
Clause 128
- Information stored otherwise than in written form
This provision is designed to make
it clear that where there is a duty otherwise imposed by this Act to produce
a document that is stored by means other than in written form then the
obligation is actually to produce a reproduction in writing of that document
or information.
Clause 129
- Commissioner to give information
This clause requires the Commissioner
to provide the Commission with any information relating to the Commissioner's
operations that the Commission may at any time require.
Clause 130
- Jurisdiction of Federal Court
This provision provides the Federal
Court with the power to deal with matters that might arise under Part 4 o f
this Act which essentially means the Court only has jurisdiction after the processes
for dealing with complaints under this legislation have been gone through.
Clause 131
- Courts to ensure just terms
This clause is designed to ensure
that if the final result of this Act in any way results in the acquisition of
property from any person then that can only be done on just terms and the Federal
Court has jurisdiction to determine the compensation that might be necessary
so as to ensure that the acquisition does take place on just terms.
The clause provides the Governor‑General
with power to make regulations which are required to be prescribed by this legislation
or which are necessary or convenient for the operations of the Bill.
Subclause 2 is a special clause which requires the Governor‑General
to take into account any comments that might be made by a relevant State or
Territory Minister in relation to the making of regulations under Clause 31,
which is the clause relating to the setting of disability standards.