Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975 - NOTES

No. 52, 1975

Compilation No. 19

Compilation date: 13 December 2022

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 85, 2022

Registered: 20 December 2022

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 13 December 2022 (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 Legislation 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 series page on the Legislation 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 series page on the Legislation 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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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 I--Preliminary

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Interpretation

4 Extension to external Territories

5 Additional operation of Act

6 Act binds the Crown

6A Operation of State and Territory laws

6B Application of the Criminal Code

7 Ratification of Convention

Part II--Prohibition of racial discrimination etc.

8 Exceptions

9 Racial discrimination to be unlawful

10 Rights to equality before the law

11 Access to places and facilities

12 Land, housing and other accommodation

13 Provision of goods and services

14 Right to join trade unions

15 Employment.................................

16 Advertisements

17 Unlawful to incite doing of unlawful acts

18 Acts done for 2 or more reasons

18A Vicarious liability

18AA Victimisation

Part IIA--Prohibition of offensive behaviour based on racial hatred

18B Reason for doing an act

18C Offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin

18D Exemptions

18E Vicarious liability

18F State and Territory laws not affected

Part III--Race Discrimination Commissioner and functions of Commission

Division 1--Preliminary

19 Race Discrimination Commissioner

20 Functions of Commission

Part IV--Offences

26 Unlawful acts not offences unless expressly so provided

27 Offences relating to administration of Act

27F Non-disclosure of private information

Part VI--Race Discrimination Commissioner

29 Appointment of Race Discrimination Commissioner

30 Terms and conditions of appointment

31 Remuneration of Commissioner

32 Leave of absence

33 Resignation

34 Termination of appointment

35 Outside employment

36 Acting Commissioner

40 Delegation

Part VII--Miscellaneous

44 Jurisdiction

45 Protection from civil actions

45A Commissioner to furnish information

47 Regulations

Schedule--International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination

Endnotes

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

Endnote 3--Legislation history

Endnote 4--Amendment history

WHEREAS a Convention entitled the "International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination" (being the Convention a copy of the English text of which is set out in the Schedule) was opened for signature on 21  December 1965:

AND WHEREAS the Convention entered into force on 2 January 1969:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable, in pursuance of all relevant powers of the Parliament, including, but not limited to, its power to make laws with respect to external affairs, with respect to the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws and with respect to immigration, to make the provisions contained in this Act for the prohibition of racial discrimination and certain other forms of discrimination and, in particular, to make provision for giving effect to the Convention:

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:

Endnotes

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

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.

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

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)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003	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
Racial Discrimination Act 1975	52, 1975	11 June 1975	s 1, 2 and 7: 11 June 1975 (s 2(1)) Remainder: 31 Oct 1975 (s 2(2) and gaz 1975, No S221)
Administrative Changes (Consequential Provisions) Act 1976	91, 1976	20 Sept 1976	s 4: 20 Sept 1976 (s 2(1)) Sch: 22 Dec 1975 (s 2(7))	s 4
Racial Discrimination Amendment Act 1980	18, 1980	23 Apr 1980	10 Dec 1981 (s 2)	--
as amended by
Racial Discrimination Amendment Act 1981	25, 1981	14 Apr 1981	10 Dec 1981 (s 2)	--
Racial Discrimination Amendment Act 1983	38, 1983	19 June 1983	19 June 1983 (s 2)	--
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1986	126, 1986	6 Dec 1986	s 11-34 and Sch: 10 Dec 1986 (s 2)	s 31-34
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1988	38, 1988	3 June 1988	s 5(1) and Sch 1: 3 June 1988 (s 2(1))	s 5(1)
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1990	115, 1990	21 Dec 1990	Sch: 21 Dec 1990 (s 2(1))	--
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Legislation Amendment Act 1992	132, 1992	30 Oct 1992	Sch: 26 Nov 1992 (s 2)	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1992	165, 1992	11 Dec 1992	s 3(2): 11 Dec 1992 (s 2(1)) Sch (Pt 2): 8 Jan 1993 (s 2(7))	s 3(2)
Sex Discrimination and other Legislation Amendment Act 1992	179, 1992	16 Dec 1992	s 4 and Sch: 13 Jan 1993 (s 2(1))	s 4
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1993	13, 1994	18 Jan 1994	s 18-20: 18 Jan 1994 (s 2(1))	s 18(2)
Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 1995	59, 1995	28 June 1995	s 4, 5 and Sch (items 5, 6, 28-30): 28 June 1995 (s 2(1))	s 4 and 5
Racial Hatred Act 1995	101, 1995	15 Sept 1995	13 Oct 1995	--
Statute Law Revision Act 1996	43, 1996	25 Oct 1996	Sch 5 (items 133, 134): 25 Oct 1996 (s 2(1))	--
Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999	133, 1999	13 Oct 1999	s 4-20 and Sch 1 (items 63-84): 13 Apr 2000 (s 2(3)) s 21: 13 Oct 1999 (s 2(1)) s 22: 10 Dec 1999 (s 2(2) and gaz 1999, No S598)	s 4-22
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Sch 1 (item 760): 5 Dec 1999 (s 2(1), (2))	--
Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000	137, 2000	24 Nov 2000	Sch 2 (items 347, 348, 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), (2) and Sch 43: 24 May 2001 (s 2(1)(a))	s 4(1) and (2)
Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004	40, 2004 /span>	21 Apr 2004	Sch 2 (item 27): never commenced (s 2(1) item 7)	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2008	73, 2008	3 July 2008	Sch 4 (items 426-435): 4 July 2008 (s 2(1) item 64)	--
Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 2009	70, 2009	8 July 2009	Sch 3 (items 60-70, 167-178) and Sch 4 (items 1-5): 5 Aug 2009 (items  7, 10, 11)	--
Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011	46, 2011	27 June 2011	Sch 2 (items 968, 969) and Sch 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011 (s 2(1) items  7, 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 191, 192): 3 Dec 2012 (s 2(1) item 7)	--
Charities (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2013	96, 2013	28 June 2013	Sch 1 (item 38): 1 Jan 2014 (s 2(1) item 2)	--
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2015	145, 2015	12 Nov 2015	Sch 3 (item 33): 10 Dec 2015 (s 2(1) item 7)	--
Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment (Selection and Appointment) Act 2022	48, 2022	9 Nov 2022	Sch 1 (items 20-22, 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 14, 15, 17, 18): 13 Dec 2022 (s 2(1) item 6)	Sch 7 (items 17, 18)

Endnote 4--Amendment history

 

Provision affected	How affected
Part I
s 2.....................	am No 91, 1976; No 126, 1986
s 3.....................	am No 18, 1980 (as am by No 25, 1981); No 126, 1986; No 38, 1988; No  179, 1992; No 133, 1999; No 73, 2008; No 70, 2009; No 169, 2012
s 4.....................	am No 18, 1980
s 6.....................	am No 18, 1980
	rs No 126, 1986; No 145, 2015
s 6A....................	ad No 38, 1983
	am No 126, 1986; No 133, 1999; No 70, 2009
s 6B....................	ad No 24, 2001
Part II
Part II heading.............	am No 85, 2022
s 8.....................	am No 169, 2012; No 96, 2013
s 9.....................	am No 115, 1990
s 10....................	am No 18, 1980; No 126, 1986
s 11....................	am No 43, 1996
s 12....................	am No 126, 1986
s 13....................	am No 43, 1996
s 15....................	am No 126, 1986; No 43, 1996
s 16....................	am No 126, 1986
s 18....................	rs No 115, 1990
s 18A...................	ad No 115, 1990
s 18AA..................	ad No 85, 2022
Part IIA
Part IIA .................	ad No 101, 1995
s 18B...................	ad No 101, 1995
s 18C...................	ad No 101, 1995
	am No 133, 1999; No 70, 2009
s 18D-18F................	ad No 101, 1995
Part III
Part III heading.............	rs No 133, 1999
Part III..................	rs No 126, 1986
Division 1
s 19....................	rs No 126, 1986
s 19A...................	ad No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 20....................	am No 18, 1980 (as am by No 25, 1981)
	rs No 126, 1986
	am No 101, 1995; No 133, 1999; No 70, 2009
s 20A...................	ad No 18, 1980
	rep No 126, 1986
s 21....................	am No 18, 1980
	rs No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
s 22....................	am No 18, 1980
	rs No 126, 1986
	am No 179, 1992; No 101, 1995
	rep No 133, 1999
s 23....................	am No 18, 1980
	rs No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
Division 2................	rep No 133, 1999
s 24....................	am No 18, 1980
	rs No 126, 1986
	am No 38, 1988; No 165, 1992; No 101, 1995
	rep No 133, 1999
s 24AA, 24AB.............	ad No 165, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 24A-24E................	ad No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
Division 3................	rep No 133, 1999
s 24F...................	ad No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25....................	rs No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25A-25H...............	ad No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25J, 25K................	ad No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25L, 25M...............	ad No 126, 1986
	rs No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25MA..................	ad No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25N...................	ad No 126, 1986
	am No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25P...................	ad No 126, 1986
	rs No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25Q-25U...............	ad No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25V...................	ad No 126, 1986
	am No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25W, 25X...............	ad No 126, 1986
	am No 101, 1995
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25Y...................	ad No 126, 1986
	am No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25Z...................	ad No 126, 1986
	am No 38, 1988; No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25ZA..................	ad No 126, 1986
	am No 165, 1992
	rs No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25ZAA.................	ad No 179, 1992
	rep No 59, 1995
s 25ZAB.................	ad No 179, 1992
	am No 13, 1994
	rep No 59, 1995
s 25ZAC.................	ad No 179, 1992
	rep No 59, 1995
s 25ZB..................	ad No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
Division 3A...............	ad No 59, 1995 rep No 133, 1999
s 25ZC..................	ad No 126, 1986
	am No 179, 1992; No 13, 1994
	rs No 59, 1995
	rep No 133, 1999
s 25ZCA-25ZCF...........	ad No 59, 1995
	rep No 133, 1999
Division 4................	ad No 179, 1992 rep No 133, 1999
s 25ZD-25ZI..............	ad No 179, 1992
	rep No 133, 1999
Part IV
s 26....................	am No 101, 1995
s 27....................	am No 18, 1980; No 126, 1986; No 133, 1999; No 24, 2001; No 70, 2009
s 27A-27D...............	ad No 126, 1986
	rep No 133, 1999
s 27E...................	ad No 126, 1986
	am No 133, 1999
	rep No 137, 2000
s 27F...................	ad No 126, 1986
	am No 24, 2001; No 70, 2009
Part V...................	rep No 70, 2009
s 28....................	am No 91, 1976; No 18, 1980; No 126, 1986
	rep No 70, 2009
Part VI
Part VI heading.............	rs No 70, 2009
Division 1 heading..........	rs No 126, 1986
	rep No 70, 2009
s 29....................	rs No 126, 1986
	am No 59, 1995; No 70, 2009; No 48, 2022
s 30....................	rs No 126, 1986
	am No 133, 1999; No 48, 2022
s 31....................	am No 126, 1986; No 59, 1995
s 32....................	am No 91, 1976
	rs No 132, 1992
	am No 146, 1999
s 33....................	am No 126, 1986
s 34....................	am No 91, 1976; No 126, 1986; No 132, 1992
s 35....................	am No 91, 1976; No 126, 1986
s 36....................	am No 91, 1976; No 126, 1986; No 132, 1992; No 13, 1994; No 46, 2011
s 37....................	rep No 126, 1986
s 38....................	rep No 18, 1980
s 39....................	rep No 126, 1986
s 40....................	rs No 18, 1980
	am No 126, 1986; No 132, 1992
Division 2................	rep No 70, 2009
s 41....................	am No 91, 1976; No 126, 1986; No 73, 2008
	rep No 70, 2009
s 42....................	am No 126, 1986; No 59, 1995
	rep No 70, 2009
s 43....................	am No 126, 1986; No 73, 2008
	rep No 70, 2009
Part VII
s 44A...................	ad No 18, 1980
	rep No 126, 1986
s 45....................	am No 18, 1980
	rep No 126, 1986
	ad No 38, 1988
	am No 133, 1999; No 70, 2009
s 45A...................	ad No 18, 1980
	am No 126, 1986
s 46....................	am No 91, 1976
	rep No 18, 1980
s 47....................	am No 126, 1986; No 70, 2009