This act may be cited as the racial discrimination act 1975. There are offences of assault in all jurisdictions. The law and penalties for racial discrimination in australia. The time is right for a crash course on section 18c of the racial discrimination act, its exemptions and the powers of the australian human rights commission. Section 18a 12 racial discrimination act 1975 b one of the reasons is the race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin of a person whether or not it is the dominant reason or a substantial reason for doing the act. While some cases have ruled against racist remarks, many. Inquiry into the operation of part iia of the racial discrimination act. Commonwealths racial discrimination act 1975 cth rda. The racial discrimination act 1975 cth the rda makes it against the law to treat you unfairly because of your race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin or immigrant status. A history of section 18c and the racial discrimination act. Racial discrimination australian human rights commission. Racial hatred under the racial discrimination act 1975 cth according to the australian human rights commission, the racial discrimination act 1975 makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of his or her race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, or immigrant status. The racial discrimination act 1975 cth was a landmark in australian race relations.
The attorneygenerals suggested changes to the racial. Centre for public law proposed an amendment that would merge the. In 1975, as attorneygeneral for the commonwealth, he introduced into the parliament the bill that became the racial discrimination act 1975. It has provided every australian with the assurance that they should be treated fairly. The racial vilification provisions are one part of a landmark law dealing with race discrimination. Commissioner means the race discrimination commissioner appointed under section 29. It was a legislative expression of a new commitment to multiculturalism, and reflected the ratification by australia of the international covention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. The rda protects people from racial discrimination in many areas of public life, including employment, education. The nine main pieces of legislation that have merged are.
Why the racial discrimination act is as important as ever. The abbott governments plan to amend part iia of the racial discrimination act 1975 rda, covering race hate provisions, ignited fierce public debate and finally came to nothing. From complaints about being called a pom to holocaust denial, the racial discrimination act has had a long and checkered history. The first statute in australia to specifically deal with racial discrimination, or indeed discrimination against any group, was the prohibition of discrimination act 1966 in south australia. The 1975 racial discrimination act promotes equality before the law for all people and makes discrimination unlawful. Racial discrimination act 1975 sect 18c offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin 1 it is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if.
The rda makes racial discrimination in certain contexts unlawful in australia, and overrides states and territory legislation to the extent of any inconsistency. Racial discrimination act implemented in 1975 and sex discrimination act implemented in 1984. The racial discrimination act needs strengthening not. This statute was limited in its scope and was eventually repealed and replaced by the racial discrimination act 1976 sa. The act protects people across australia from unfair treatment on the basis of their race, colour, descent, or.
Perspectives on the racial discrimination act australian human. The racial discrimination act 1975 rda makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person because of his or her race, colour, descent, national origin or ethnic origin, or immigrant status. Racial discrimination act 1975 antidiscrimination database. Racial discrimination act 1975 federal register of legislation. The suspension and reinstatement of the rda and special. Section 18c of the racial discrimination act 1975 rda makes it. The landmark racial discrimination act 1975 cth rda was enacted in the. Why the campaign to reform the racial discrimination act. The notes at the end of this compilation the endnotes include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the. Changing the requirement that race is a reason for doing the act to. Forty years ago today, the racial discrimination act came into effect as our first national human rights law.
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