How the Commission maintains confidentiality and impartiality

The Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission upholds the most stringent standards of confidentiality, impartiality and political independence in all its dealings.

Confidentiality provisions in the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic) prevent the Commission from releasing information or commenting publicly on individual complaints. When a complaint is lodged, the Commission investigates and tries to resolve the issue by bringing the people involved together in an attempt to reach an agreed outcome. The Commission's role is that of neutral umpire.

Complaint investigations and conciliations are kept strictly private and all staff and Members are prohibited from discussing the nature of complaints.

Commission members and staff who deal with complaints are required to declare a conflict of interest and withdraw from handling the complaint when appropriate. Commission members are vigilant in abstaining from handling individual complaints when a conflict of interest becomes apparent. That includes complaints where one or more of the people involved has a personal, business or professional connection with one or more Commission members.