Sex Discrimination Act 1984

The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 works to comply with Australia's obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (hyperlink to IHRNA page on CEDAW) and certain aspects of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 156 (hyperlink within this page to ‘International Protection of Gender Rights).

The Sex Discrimination Act aims are to:

• promote equality between men and women;
• eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status or pregnancy and, with respect to dismissals, family responsibilities; and
• eliminate sexual harassment at work, in educational institutions, in the provision of goods and services, in the provision of accommodation and the delivery of Commonwealth programs.

Under the Act, individuals can lodge complaints of sex discrimination and sexual harassment with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Please click here to find out how to lodge a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission and other entities on Gender discrimination.

More information about the Sex Discrimination Act can be found at the Australian Human Rights Commission website. 

Inquiry into the Effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984

Significant progress has been made in reducing direct sex discrimination. But application of the SDA since 1984 has highlighted limitations with its current form and content.

The SDA has never fully implemented our international legal obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (‘CEDAW’) (hyperlink to IHRNA page on CEDAW)

A review of the SDA was undertaken by The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs This presents an opportunity to examine new ways of reducing sex discrimination, harassment and violence.

The Australian Human Rights Commission’s submission to the review, made in September 2008, makes 54 recommendations for reform of the SDA. It also proposes a more extensive second stage of inquiry to consider 11 more extensive reform proposals.

The final report on the inquiry was released by the Australian Senate in December 2008 with 43 Recommendations. You can read more about the inquiry and the recommendations here.