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History of Human Rights Law in Victoria

1977

Equal Opportunity Act 1977 (Vic) creates the Equal Opportunity Board and the Office of Equal Opportunity Commissioner. The Act outlaws discrimination because of marital status and gender in employment, education, accommodation and provision of goods and services.

1982

Amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act 1977 (Vic) extend protection to people with a disability.

1984

Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (Vic) adds race, religion, ethnic origin, political belief and de-facto spouse status to the list of personal characteristics. Sexual harassment becomes unlawful.

1993

Structural and operational change replaces the Equal Opportunity Commissioner with a five member Equal Opportunity Commission.

1995

Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic) makes it against the law to sexually harass or treat someone unfairly because of their: age, carer status, disability, industrial activity, lawful sexual activity, marital status, parental status, physical features, pregnancy, race, religious belief/activity, sex and personal association with someone else perceived to have one or more of the listed attributes.

Unfair treatment on the basis of these personal characteristics is against the law in the areas of employment, accommodation, education, provision of goods and services, disposal of land, sport, local government and clubs.

2000

Breastfeeding, sexual orientation and gender identity added to the Act, the latter protecting transgender and intersex Victorians from discrimination.

2001

The Statute Law Amendment (Relationships) Act 2001 (Vic) and the Statute Law Further Amendment (Relationships) Act 2001 (Vic) (the Relationships Acts) changes more than 50 Victorian Acts of Parliament to ensure that all couples are treated equally in relation to property rights, compensation and superannuation. These changes ensure that same sex couples must be treated the same as other couples under the law.

2002

Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 (Vic) takes effect on 1st January, making it against the law to incite hatred against or serious contempt for a person because of their racial or religious background and practices.

2006

Amendments made by the Equal Opportunity and Tolerance Legislation (Amendment) Act 2006 (Vic) strengthen the Equal Opportunity Commission's investigation powers, tighten procedures relating to racial and religious vilification complaints, and clarify the operation of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 (Vic).

The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities is passed, spelling out civil and political rights and responsibilities. The Charter compels State and local government to take human rights into consideration when making laws, setting policies and in the provision of services.