Victorian laws administered by the Commission

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory body with responsibilities under three laws:

• Equal Opportunity Act 2010
• Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001
• Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.

The Equal Opportunity Act makes discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation against the law in many areas of public life, such as employment, education, accommodation, and providing goods and services.

The Racial and Religious Tolerance Act makes racial and religious vilification against the law. Racial and religious vilification is behaviour that incites or encourages hatred, serious contempt, revulsion or severe ridicule against another person or group of people because of their race or religion.

The Commission receives and resolves complaints under both of these laws.

The Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities is a law that requires the Victorian Government, local councils and other public authorities to act consistently with Charter rights and to consider human rights when making decisions, developing policies and providing services. The Commission does not handle complaints related to the Charter.

Find out more about the Commission’s role in relation to the Charter.