Lobby calls for immediate sexuality and gender anti-discrimination laws
10 December 2008
Lobby group the Australian Coalition for Equality has today called on the Federal Government to enact laws to eliminate discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity without delay.
The group has welcomed the Federal Government's commitment to consult over a possible national human rights act, but says current laws need bolstering to give human rights bodies the power to determine sexuality and gender identity discrimination cases.
The call comes on International Human Rights Day, this year marking the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The Attorney-General Robert McClelland today, also announced a national consultation into protecting and strengthening human rights.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson Rod Swift said that current laws are clearly deficient and in need of immediate changes.
"When it comes to discrimination on the basis of race, age, disability or gender, the Australian Human Rights Commission has the power to investigate and impose penalties on those found to have discriminated against individuals," Mr Swift said.
"But in the case of sexuality discrimination, the AHRC can only investigate a claim. This means if a case is proven, the perpetrators of the discrimination can avoid penalty and ignore the AHRC's decision."
"It is ALP National policy to introduce national sexuality discrimination legislation. We call on the Rudd Government to commit to introducing this legislation immediately in 2009."
"After 15 years of consultations on this issue, we do not need another consultation to tell the Federal Government this anti-discrimination legislation is needed.”
Mr Swift says that national anti-discrimination legislation is vital to protect individuals from discrimination in the areas of employment and service delivery.
"While the Australian Government has moved to fix financial penalties against same-sex couples and their children, it now must provide the anti-discrimination framework so the AHRC is not a toothless tiger when it comes to sexuality and gender identity discrimination."
"State and territory laws need to be complemented with federal legislation, as there is inconsistency between state-based laws and it is not clear whether existing state laws cover those who are employed by, or who receive goods and services from, the Commonwealth."
