Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsNo. 135, 1992
Compilation No. 39
Compilation date: 14 October 2024
Includes amendments: Act No. 38, 2024
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 14 October 2024 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.
Self-repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Part 1--Preliminary
1 Short title
2 Commencement
3 Objects
4 Interpretation
5 Direct disability discrimination
6 Indirect disability discrimination
7 Discrimination in relation to associates
8 Discrimination in relation to carers, assistants, assistance animals and disability aids
9 Carer, assistant, assistance animal and disability aid definitions
10 Act done because of disability and for other reason
11 Unjustifiable hardship
12 Application of Act
12A Application of the Criminal Code
13 Operation of State and Territory laws
14 Extent to which Act binds the Crown
Part 2--Prohibition of disability discrimination etc.
Division 1--Discrimination in work
15 Discrimination in employment
16 Discrimination against commission agents
17 Discrimination against contract workers
18 Partnerships
19 Qualifying bodies
20 Registered organisations under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009
21 Employment agencies
21A Exception--inherent requirements
21B Exception--unjustifiable hardship
Division 2--Discrimination in other areas
22 Education
23 Access to premises
24 Goods, services and facilities
25 Accommodation
26 Land
27 Clubs and incorporated associations
28 Sport
29 Administration of Commonwealth laws and programs
29A Unjustifiable hardship
30 Requests for information
Division 2A--Disability standards
31 Disability standards
32 Unlawful to contravene disability standards
33 Division 5 generally not to apply to disability standards
34 This Part not to apply if person acts in accordance with disability standards
Division 3--Discrimination involving harassment
35 Harassment in employment
37 Harassment in education
39 Harassment in relation to the provision of goods and services
Division 4--Offences
41 Unlawful act not offence unless expressly so provided
42 Victimisation
43 Offence to incite doing of unlawful acts or offences
44 Advertisements
Division 5--Exemptions
45 Special measures
46 Superannuation and insurance
47 Acts done under statutory authority
48 Infectious diseases
49 Charities
51 Pensions and allowances
52 Migration
53 Combat duties and peacekeeping services
54 Peacekeeping services by the AFP
54A Assistance animals
55 Commission may grant exemptions
56 Review by Administrative Review Tribunal
57 Notice of decisions to be published
58 Effect of exemptions
Division 6--Victimisation
58A Victimisation
Part 3--Action plans
59 Scope
60 Action plans
61 Provisions of action plans
62 Action plans may have other provisions
63 Amendment of action plans
64 Action plans may be given to Commission
Part 4--Functions of the Australian Human Rights Commission
Division 1--Preliminary
67 Functions of the Commission
Part 5--Other offences
107 Failure to provide actuarial data or statistical data
Part 6--Disability Discrimination Commissioner
113 Disability Discrimination Commissioner
114 Terms and conditions of appointment
115 Remuneration of Commissioner
116 Leave of absence
117 Outside employment
118 Resignation
119 Termination of appointment
120 Acting Commissioner
Part 7--Miscellaneous
121 Delegation
122 Liability of persons involved in unlawful acts
123 Conduct by directors, employees and agents
124 Commonwealth taken to be employer
125 Unlawful act not basis of civil action unless expressly so provided
126 Protection from civil actions
127 Non-disclosure of private information
128 Information stored otherwise than in written form
129 Commissioner to give information
131 Courts to ensure just terms
132 Regulations
Endnotes
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
Abbreviation key--Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history.
ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |
am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |
amdt = amendment | orig = original |
c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub-subparagraph(s) |
Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |
def = definition(s) | prev = previous |
Dict = Dictionary | (prev ... ) = previously |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |
Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |
ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |
effect | rep = repealed |
F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |
gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |
Sdiv = Subdivision(s) | |
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
effect | SR = Statutory Rules |
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s) |
cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |
mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |
No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Act | Number and year | Assent | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
135, 1992 | 5 Nov 1992 | s 1 and 2: 5 Nov 1992 (s 2(1)) |
| |
Sex Discrimination and other Legislation Amendment Act 1992 | 179, 1992 | 16 Dec 1992 | ||
13, 1994 | 18 Jan 1994 | |||
Veterans' Affairs (1994-95 Budget Measures) Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1994 | 164, 1994 | 16 Dec 1994 | Sch 6: 16 Dec 1994 (s 2(1)) | -- |
59, 1995 | 28 June 1995 | |||
Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996 | 60, 1996 | 25 Nov 1996 | Sch 11 (item 61): 31 Dec 1996 (s 2(2) and gaz 1996, No S535) | -- |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1996 | 77, 1996 | 19 Dec 1996 | Sch 3 (items 1, 2): 25 Nov 1996 (s 2(4)) | -- |
116, 1999 | 22 Sept 1999 | Sch 5 (item 2): 1 Jan 2001 (s 2(4)) | -- | |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
63, 2002 | 3 July 2002 | Sch 2 (item 9): 1 Jan 2001 (s 2(1) item 38) | -- | |
133, 1999 | 13 Oct 1999 | s 4-20 and Sch 1 (items 3-32): 13 Apr 2000 (s 2(3)) | ||
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 | 146, 1999 | 11 Nov 1999 | Sch 1 (items 394-396): 5 Dec 1999 (s 2(1), (2) and gaz 1999, No S584) | -- |
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment Act 1999 | 161, 1999 | 10 Dec 1999 | Sch 3 (items 1, 25): 10 Dec 1999 (s 2(2)) | -- |
9, 2000 | 7 Mar 2000 | Sch 2 (item 28) and Sch 3 (items 20, 24, 34, 35): 2 July 2000 (s 2(1) and gaz 2000, No S328) | Sch 3 (items 20, 24, 34, 35) | |
Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000 | 137, 2000 | 24 Nov 2000 | Sch 2 (items 176, 177, 418, 419): 24 May 2001 (s 2(3)) | Sch 2 (items 418, 419) |
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 | 24, 2001 | 6 Apr 2001 | s 4(1) and (2) | |
62, 2002 | 3 July 2002 | Sch 1: 19 Aug 2002 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |
105, 2002 | 14 Nov 2002 | Sch 3 (item 41): 12 May 2003 (s 2(1) item 23) | -- | |
40, 2004 | 21 Apr 2004 | Sch 2 (item 26): never commenced (s 2(1) item 7) | -- | |
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 | 52, 2004 | 27 Apr 2004 | Sch 3 (item 20): 1 July 2004 (s 2(1) item 6) | -- |
Disability Discrimination Amendment (Education Standards) Act 2005 | 19, 2005 | 1 Mar 2005 | Sch 1: 10 Aug 2005 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
86, 2005 | 6 July 2005 | Sch 1 (item 2): 6 July 2005 (s 2) | -- | |
Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2009 | 54, 2009 | 25 June 2009 | s 4: 25 June 2009 (s 2(1) item 1) | s 4 and Sch 5 (item 84) |
Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 2009 | 70, 2009 | 8 July 2009 | Sch 2 (items 1-90) and Sch 3 (items 22-31, 117, 118): 5 Aug 2009 (s 2(1) items 3, 7, 10) | Sch 2 (items 63, 86) |
Fair Work Amendment (State Referrals and Other Measures) Act 2009 | 124, 2009 | 9 Dec 2009 | Sch 2 (item 124): 1 Jan 2010 (s 2(1) item 10) | -- |
46, 2011 | 27 June 2011 | Sch 2 (items 543-546) and Sch 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011 (s 2(1) items 3, 12) | Sch 3 (items 10, 11) | |
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (Consequential and Transitional) Act 2012 | 169, 2012 | 3 Dec 2012 | Sch 2 (items 173-176): 3 Dec 2012 (s 2(1) item 7) | -- |
Charities (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2013 | 96, 2013 | 28 June 2013 | Sch 1 (item 14): 1 Jan 2014 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2015 | 5, 2015 | 25 Feb 2015 | Sch 3 (items 70-74): 25 Mar 2015 (s 2(1) item 10) | -- |
59, 2015 | 26 May 2015 | Sch 1 (item 97) and Sch 2 (items 356-396): 18 June 2015 (s 2(1) items 2, 6) | Sch 1 (items 184-203) and Sch 2 (items 356-396) | |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
33, 2016 | 23 Mar 2016 | Sch 2: 24 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |
164, 2015 | 2 Dec 2015 | Sch 2 (items 54, 80): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 2 (item 80) | |
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment (Defence Force) Act 2017 | 108, 2017 | 14 Sept 2017 | Sch 3 (item 11): 12 Oct 2017 (s 2(1) item 5) | -- |
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Act 2018 | 26, 2018 | 11 Apr 2018 | Sch 18: 12 Apr 2018 (s 2(1) item 22) | -- |
Parliamentary Workplace Reform (Set the Standard Measures No. 1) Act 2022 | 7, 2022 | 22 Feb 2022 | Sch 3 (items 3, 4): 23 Feb 2022 (s 2(1) item 1) | -- |
Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment (Selection and Appointment) Act 2022 | 48, 2022 | 9 Nov 2022 | Sch 1 (items 17-19, 26): 10 Nov 2022 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 1 (item 26) |
Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Act 2022 | 85, 2022 | 12 Dec 2022 | Sch 7 (items 11-13, 17, 18): 13 Dec 2022 (s 2(1) item 6) | Sch 7 (items 17, 18) |
71, 2023 | 19 Sept 2023 | Sch 4 (items 6, 7): 17 Oct 2023 (s 2(1) item 5) | -- | |
Statute Law Amendment (Prescribed Forms and Other Updates) Act 2023 | 74, 2023 | 20 Sept 2023 | Sch 4 (item 29): 18 Oct 2023 (s 2(1) item 3) | -- |
Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 1) Act 2024 | 38, 2024 | 31 May 2024 | Sch 6 (items 2, 11): 14 Oct 2024 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Number and year | FRLI registration or Assent | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
50, 2006 | 17 Mar 2006 (F2006L00820) | Sch 35: 27 Mar 2006 (r 2(b)) | -- |
as amended by |
|
|
|
Act No. 70, 2009 | 8 July 2009 | Sch 2 (item 106): 27 Mar 2006 (s 2(1) item 6) | -- |
Provision affected | How affected |
Part 1 |
|
s 4..................... | am No 179, 1992; No 60, 1996; No 116, 1999; No 133, 1999; No 146, 1999; No 161, 1999; No 9, 2000; No 105, 2002; No 19, 2005; SLI 2006 No 50; No 54, 2009; No 70, 2009; No 46, 2011; No 169, 2012; No 59, 2015; No 164, 2015; No 7, 2022; No 71, 2023 |
s 5..................... | rs No 70, 2009 |
s 6..................... | rs No 70, 2009 |
s 7..................... | rs No 70, 2009 |
s 8..................... | rs No 70, 2009 |
s 9..................... | rs No 70, 2009 |
| am No 74, 2023 |
s. 11.................... | rs. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 12.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 12A................... | ad. No. 24, 2001 |
s. 13.................... | am. No. 133, 1999; No. 70, 2009 |
s 14.................... | am No 59, 2015 |
Part 2 |
|
Part 2 heading............. | am No 85, 2022 |
Division 1 |
|
am. No. 70, 2009 | |
s 20.................... | am No 60, 1996; No 105, 2002; No 54, 2009; No 70, 2009 |
s 21.................... | am No 70, 2009 |
s 21A................... | ad No 70, 2009 |
| am No 54, 2009 |
| ed C34 |
s. 21B................... | ad. No. 70, 2009 |
Division 2 |
|
s. 22.................... | am. No. 19, 2005; No. 70, 2009 |
s. 23.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 24.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 25.................... | am. No. 70, 2009; No. 169, 2012 |
s. 26.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 27.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 28.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 29.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 29A................... | ad. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 30.................... | rs. No. 70, 2009 |
Division 2A |
|
Division 2A heading......... | ad. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 31.................... | am. No. 133, 1999; No. 62, 2002; No. 19, 2005 |
| rs. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 33.................... | rs. No. 62, 2002 |
s. 34.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
Division 3 |
|
s. 36.................... | rep. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 38.................... | rep. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 40.................... | rep. No. 70, 2009 |
Division 4 |
|
s. 42.................... | am. No. 133, 1999; No. 70, 2009 |
s. 43.................... | am. No. 24, 2001; No. 70, 2009 |
s. 44.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
Division 5 |
|
s. 45.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
s 47.................... | am No 60, 1996; No 133, 1999; No 86, 2005; No 54, 2009; No 70, 2009; No 124, 2009 |
s 48.................... | am No 70, 2009 |
s. 49.................... | am. No. 169, 2012 |
| rs No 96, 2013 |
s. 50.................... | rep. No. 70, 2009 |
s 51.................... | am No 164, 1994; No 52, 2004; No 108, 2017; No 26, 2018 |
s. 52.................... | rs. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 54A................... | ad. No. 70, 2009 |
s. 55.................... | am. No. 62, 2002; No. 70, 2009 |
s 56.................... | am No 38, 2024 |
s 57.................... | am No 38, 2024 |
s. 58.................... | am. No. 70, 2009 |
Division 6 |
|
Division 6................ | ad No 85, 2022 |
s 58A................... | ad No 85, 2022 |
Part 3 |
|
s. 59.................... | rs. No. 70, 2009 |
am. No. 70, 2009 | |
rs. No. 70, 2009 | |
s. 65.................... | rep. No. 70, 2009 |
Part 4 |
|
Part 4 heading............. | rs. No. 133, 1999; No. 70, 2009 |
Division 1 |
|
s. 66.................... | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s 67.................... | am No 133, 1999; No 70, 2009 |
s. 68.................... | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 69.................... | am. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 70.................... | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
Division 2................ | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
ss. 71-76................. | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
Division 3................ | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
ss. 77-88................. | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
ss. 89, 90................. | rs. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 90A................... | ad. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 91.................... | am. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 92.................... | rs. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
ss. 93-97................. | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 98.................... | am. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
ss. 99-101................ | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
ss. 102, 103............... | am. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 104................... | rs. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 104A.................. | ad. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 59, 1995 |
s. 104B.................. | ad. No. 179, 1992 |
| am. No. 13, 1994 |
| rep. No. 59, 1995 |
s. 104C.................. | ad. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 59, 1995 |
s. 105................... | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 106................... | am. No. 179, 1992; No. 13, 1994 |
| rep. No. 59, 1995 |
Division 3A............... | ad. No. 59, 1995 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
ss. 105A-105F............. | ad. No. 59, 1995 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 106................... | ad. No. 59, 1995 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
Division 4................ | ad. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
ss. 106A-106F............. | ad. No. 179, 1992 |
| rep. No. 133, 1999 |
Part 5 |
|
s. 107................... | am. No. 133, 1999; No. 24, 2001; No. 70, 2009 |
ss. 108-111............... | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 112................... | am. No. 133, 1999 |
| rep. No. 137, 2000 |
Part 6 |
|
s 113................... | am No 59, 1995; No 70, 2009; No 48, 2022 |
s 114................... | am No 48, 2022 |
s. 116................... | am. No. 146, 1999 |
s 120................... | am No 46, 2011 |
Part 7 |
|
s 122................... | am No 70, 2009; No 85, 2022 |
s 123................... | am No 133, 1999; No 5, 2015 |
s. 126................... | am. No. 133, 1999; No. 70, 2009 |
s 127................... | am No 24, 2001; No 70, 2009 |
s. 130................... | rep. No. 133, 1999 |
s. 132................... | am. No. 62, 2002; No. 70, 2009 |