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ALHR Newsletters → 2010 → April → 20
Press Release - Victorian Equal Opporunity Act 2010
For queries and further discussion please contact Stephen Keim, ALHR National President, on 0433 846 518.
Kind regards
Lily Tsen | Mandy Lister
0414 77 5167 | 0407 023 053
Victorian Co-Convenors, ALHR
ALHR: Press Release - Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010
PRESS RELEASE
20 April 2010
Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights welcomes the passage on 15 April 2010 by Victorian State Parliament of The Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (
Prelude to the Act - Equal Opportunity Review 2007
In August 2007, Victorian Attorney-General, Robert Hulls MP, announced an independent review of the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (
Overview of the Changes
Amongst other things, the Act provides the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (the VEOHRC) with more effective options for responding to systemic discrimination, including by:
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empowering it to investigate persistent and systemic discrimination in the absence of a complaint;
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empowering it to issue compliance notices and enter into enforceable undertakings with discriminatory organisations; and
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expanding its role from that of complaints-handling body to educational facilitator.
The Act also:
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provides complainants with more flexible (including alternative dispute resolution) options, including the ability to put their matter before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal; and
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encourages best practice and proactive compliance by duty-holders by creating a statutory duty not to discriminate and requiring employers to make reasonable adjustments for individuals with disability.
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights applauds the Victorian State Government for removing existing legal and technical barriers in its anti-discrimination and equal opportunity laws. It also applauds the Victorian State Government for proactively working towards the protection of human rights in
Stephen Keim
Mandy Lister
National President
Mobile: 0433 846 518
Mobile: 0407 023 053
Lily Tsen
Mobile: 0414 775 167
Victorian Co-Convenors
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights
20 April 2010