The consultation concerns how protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation might be included in federal law. The report notes that -
Very few protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation exist in federal law.It goes on to comment that -
The Commission can inquire into and attempt to conciliate complaints of discrimination on the basis of 'sexual preference' in employment and occupation. However, if a complaint is not able to be resolved through conciliation, all the Commission is able to do is to issue a report to the federal Attorney-General which is tabled in Parliament. There is no avenue to seek a tribunal or court hearing about discrimination of this kind. Commission recommendations are not enforceable.
Since the 1990s, federal industrial law has included limited protection from discrimination in employment on the basis of 'sexual preference'. The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) now prohibits discrimination on the basis of an employee's 'sexual preference' in relation to all aspects of employment, from hiring, to promotion and training opportunities, and to dismissal. The Fair Work Act also refers to discrimination on the basis of 'marital status' rather than using 'relationship status’ which would include people in same-sex relationships.
The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) prohibits discrimination on the basis of 'sex'. Arguments that discrimination against lesbians and gay men on the basis of sexual orientation is a form of sex discrimination under the Sex Discrimination Act have been explicitly rejected by Australian tribunals and courts.
The Sex Discrimination Act also prohibits discrimination on the basis of 'marital status', however this does not cover same-sex relationships. The Commission has recommended that this ground of discrimination should include same-sex relationships. A Senate inquiry report has also recommended that the term 'marital status' be replaced with 'marital or relationship status' which would include people in same-sex relationships.
Equality for people of all sexual orientations and sex/and or gender identities is supported by international human rights agreements which Australia has agreed to observe. Taking steps to achieve such equality is the responsibility of the federal government. For this reason, the Commission is particularly pleased by the Government's commitment to introduce federal protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity. ...Recurrent (and often rather plaintive) reporting on human rights abuses makes me nostalgic for the bravery of Lionel Murphy, who was prepared to empower the Australian Law Reform Commission and to initiate legislative change that we now accept as both valuable and overdue.
There are significant gaps in the legal protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity at the state and territory level and almost no protections at the federal level. This consultation has clearly demonstrated the need for comprehensive protections. The stories of discrimination, vilification and harassment, and the explanations of the potential benefits of new protections from discrimination, were compelling.
The belief that federal protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity would lead to cultural change was a common theme of contributions to the consultation. The consultation heard widespread support for the inclusion of protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws. The consultation also heard of the importance of ensuring that people of all sex and/or gender identities are protected from discrimination by the use of broad and inclusive terminology in federal anti-discrimination law. State and territory laws provide incomplete and inconsistent protection from discrimination in this area. A number of consultation participants expressed support for including protection on the basis of sex characteristics, gender identity and gender expression in order to achieve the broadest coverage of people of all sex and/or gender identities. The Commission also heard of the need to ensure that people who are intersex are expressly included in legislative protections from discrimination.
The consultation also heard of alarming levels of violence and harassment, particularly towards trans and intersex people. The Commission encourages the Government to give consideration to providing appropriate protections from vilification and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity in federal anti-discrimination law.
The Commission acknowledges that a small number of participants did not support the inclusion of protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity in federal law. Some participants argued that there should be exemptions to laws prohibiting discrimination on these bases, particularly for religious organisations. Determining the extent of any exemptions must involve careful balancing of the right to be free from discrimination with the right to freedom of religion and belief. The Commission's view is that there should be further consultation and careful consideration of this issue.
Federal protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity would send a powerful message to our community regarding equality. The Commission supports the introduction of such laws, which could have a profound impact on reducing discrimination, vilification and harassment experienced by LGBTI people in Australia.
