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related:

Australian
Law

Human
rights

     landmarks

This page highlights landmarks in Australian discrimination law.

A broader chronology on human rights development is here.

1896

women in South Australia gain the vote

1902

Franchise Act (Cth) extends vote to women in national elections and referenda

1948

UN General Assembly adopts Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Citizenship & Nationality Act (Cth) extends "Australian Citizenship" to all Australians, inc Indigenous people

1949

Electoral Act (Cth) extends franchise to Indigenous ex-servicemen

1958

ILO Convention Concerning Discrimination in Employment and Occupation is adopted

1961

Australia ratifies Convention on the Nationality of Married Women

1962

Electoral Act (Cth) amended to give franchise to all Indigenous people

1965

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is adopted

1966

Australian Prohibition of Discrimination Act 1966 (SA)

1967

Commonwealth referendum ends constitutional discrimination against Indigenous people, with coverage in census and shared Commonwealth-state responsibility

1972

Australia signs International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR)

1975

Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)

Australia ratifies International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

1977

Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)

1979

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women is adopted

1981

Commonwealth Human Rights Commission established by Human Rights Commission Act 1981 (Cth)

Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief is adopted

1982

Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen & Ors; Queensland v Commonwealth (1982) HCA 27 (1982), 153 CLR 168

1983

Australia ratifies International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

1984

Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)

Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA)

Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (Vic)

Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)

Convention Against Torture & Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is adopted

1986

Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunity for Women) Act 1986 (Cth)

Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth)

1987

Equal Employment Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1987 (Cth)

1988

Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)

1989

Anti-Discrimination (Racial Vilification) Amendment Act 1989 (NSW)

Convention on the Rights of the Child is adopted

1990

International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families is adopted

Australia ratifies ratified ILO Convention (No 156) Concerning Equal Opportunities and Equal Treatment for Men and Women Workers: Workers with Family Responsibilities

1991

Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT)

Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld)

first complaint under ICCPR by Nick Toonen alleging Tasmanian Criminal Code violates right to privacy

1992

Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)

Disability Services Act 1992 (Tas)

Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (NT)

1993

Anti Discrimination (Homosexual Vilification) Act 1993 (NSW)

Disability Services Act 1993 (NSW)

Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)

establishment of Office of the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

UN Human Rights Committee agrees with Toonen

Anti-Discrimination (Homosexual Vilification) Amendment Act 1993 (NSW)

1994

Anti-Discrimination Act 1994 (NT)

Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act 1994 (Cth)

Sex Discrimination Act 1994 (Tas)

1995

Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic)

Racial Hatred Act 1995 (Cth) amends Racial Discrimination Act to cover racial vilification

1996

Racial Vilification Act 1996 (SA)

Transgender (Anti-Discrimination & Other Acts Amendment) Act 1996 (NSW)

Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth)

1997

Senate Legal & Constitutional Committee Inquiry into Sexuality Discrimination

Croome v Tasmania decision by High Court

1998

Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas)

2000

Maguire v SOCOG

Age Matters report by HREOC

2001

Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 (Vic)

Anti-Discrimination Amendment Act 2001 (Qld)

2003

Legislation (Gay, Lesbian & Transgender) Amendment Act 2003 (ACT)

Purvis v New South Wales

2004

Sexuality Discrimination Legislation Amendment Act 2004 (ACT)

Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)

Age Discrimination (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004 (Cth)

Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT)

Kelly-Country v Beers

2006

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Age Discrimination Amendment Act 2006 (Cth)

2008

Bropho v State of Western Australia [2008] FCAFC 100

Australia ratifies UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment In Commonwealth Laws- General Law Reform) Act 2008 (Cth)








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