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RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975 - NOTES

Act No. 52 of 1975 as amended

This compilation was prepared on 14 February 2012
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 46 of 2011

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General's Department, Canberra

  

  

  


Contents

Part I--Preliminary                                                                                                               1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ........................................................................ 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Interpretation ....................................................................................... 2

4............ Extension to external Territories .......................................................... 3

5............ Additional operation of Act ................................................................. 3

6............ Act binds the Crown ........................................................................... 4

6A......... Operation of State and Territory laws ................................................. 4

6B......... Application of the Criminal Code ....................................................... 5

7............ Ratification of Convention .................................................................. 5

Part II--Prohibition of racial discrimination                                                         6

8............ Exceptions ........................................................................................... 6

9............ Racial discrimination to be unlawful ................................................... 6

10.......... Rights to equality before the law ......................................................... 7

11.......... Access to places and facilities ............................................................. 8

12.......... Land, housing and other accommodation ............................................ 9

13.......... Provision of goods and services ......................................................... 9

14.......... Right to join trade unions .................................................................. 10

15.......... Employment ...................................................................................... 10

16.......... Advertisements ................................................................................. 11

17.......... Unlawful to incite doing of unlawful acts ......................................... 11

18.......... Acts done for 2 or more reasons ....................................................... 11

18A....... Vicarious liability .............................................................................. 12

Part IIA--Prohibition of offensive behaviour based on racial hatred 13

18B....... Reason for doing an act ..................................................................... 13

18C....... Offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin 13

18D....... Exemptions ....................................................................................... 14

18E........ Vicarious liability .............................................................................. 14

18F........ State and Territory laws not affected ................................................. 14

Part III--Race Discrimination Commissioner and functions of Commission       15

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                             15

19.......... Race Discrimination Commissioner .................................................. 15

20.......... Functions of Commission ................................................................. 15

Part IV--Offences                                                                                                                16

26.......... Unlawful acts not offences unless expressly so provided ................. 16

27.......... Offences relating to administration of Act ......................................... 16

27F........ Non-disclosure of private information .............................................. 17

Part VI--Race Discrimination Commissioner                                                    20

29.......... Appointment of Race Discrimination Commissioner ........................ 20

30.......... Terms and conditions of appointment ............................................... 20

31.......... Remuneration of Commissioner ........................................................ 20

32.......... Leave of absence ............................................................................... 20

33.......... Resignation ....................................................................................... 21

34.......... Termination of appointment .............................................................. 21

35.......... Outside employment ......................................................................... 21

36.......... Acting Commissioner ....................................................................... 21

40.......... Delegation ......................................................................................... 22

Part VII--Miscellaneous                                                                                                   23

44.......... Jurisdiction ........................................................................................ 23

45.......... Protection from civil actions .............................................................. 23

45A....... Commissioner to furnish information ............................................... 24

47.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 24

Schedule--International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination   25

Notes                                                                                                                                              39


An Act relating to the Elimination of Racial and other Discrimination

WHEREAS a Convention entitled the "International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination" (being the Convention a copy of the English text of which is set out in the Schedule) was opened for signature on 21 December 1965:

AND WHEREAS the Convention entered into force on 2 January 1969:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable, in pursuance of all relevant powers of the Parliament, including, but not limited to, its power to make laws with respect to external affairs, with respect to the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws and with respect to immigration, to make the provisions contained in this Act for the prohibition of racial discrimination and certain other forms of discrimination and, in particular, to make provision for giving effect to the Convention:

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:

  

Notes to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975

Note 1

The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 52, 1975 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 13 October 1999 is not included in this compilation. For subsequent information see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act

Number
and year

Date
of Assent

Date of commencement

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Racial Discrimination Act 1975

52, 1975

11 June 1975

Ss. 1, 2 and 7: Royal Assent
Remainder: 31 Oct 1975 (see Gazette 1975, No. S221)

 

Administrative Changes (Consequential Provisions) Act 1976

91, 1976

20 Sept 1976

S. 3: (a)
S. 4: Royal Assent

S. 4

Racial Discrimination Amendment Act 1980

18, 1980

23 Apr 1980

10 Dec 1981 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1981, No. G49,
p. 2)

--

as amended by

 

 

 

 

Racial Discrimination Amendment Act 1981

25, 1981

14 Apr 1981

10 Dec 1981 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1981, No. G49,
p. 2)

--

Racial Discrimination Amendment Act 1983

38, 1983

19 June 1983

19 June 1983

--

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1986

126, 1986

6 Dec 1986

10 Dec 1986 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1986, No. S631)

Ss. 31-34

Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1988

38, 1988

3 June 1988

Ss. 3 and 5(1): Royal Assent

S. 5(1)

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1990

115, 1990

21 Dec 1990

S. 49: Royal Assent

--

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Legislation Amendment Act 1992

132, 1992

30 Oct 1992

26 Nov 1992 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1992, No. S346)

--

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1992

165, 1992

11 Dec 1992

S. 3(2): Royal Assent
S. 4 (Schedule [Part 2]): 8 Jan 1993

S. 3(2)

Sex Discrimination and other Legislation Amendment Act 1992

179, 1992

16 Dec 1992

13 Jan 1993

Ss. 2(2)
and 4

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1993

13, 1994

18 Jan 1994

Part 4 (ss. 17-20): Royal Assent

S. 18(2)

Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 1995

59, 1995

28 June 1995

Ss. 4, 5 and Schedule (items 5, 6, 28-30): Royal Assent

Ss. 4 and 5

Racial Hatred Act 1995

101, 1995

15 Sept 1995

13 Oct 1995

--

Statute Law Revision Act 1996

43, 1996

25 Oct 1996

Schedule 5 (items 133, 134): Royal Assent

--

Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999

133, 1999

13 Oct 1999

Ss. 4-20 and Schedule 1 (items 63-84): 13 Apr 2000
S. 21: Royal Assent
S. 22: 10 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S598)

Ss. 4-22 [see Table A]

Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999

146, 1999

11 Nov 1999

Schedule 1 (item 760): 5 Dec 1999 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1999, No. S584)

--

Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000

137, 2000

24 Nov 2000

Schedule 2 (items 347, 348, 418, 419): 24 May 2001

Sch. 2 (items 418, 419) [see Table A]

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001

24, 2001

6 Apr 2001

S. 4(1), (2) and Schedule 43: (b)

S. 4(1) and (2) [see Table A]

Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004

40, 2004

21 Apr 2004

Schedule 2 (item 27): (c)

--

Statute Law Revision Act 2008

73, 2008

3 July 2008

Schedule 4 (items 426-435): 4 July 2008

--

Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 2009

70, 2009

8 July 2009

Schedule 3 (items 60-70,
167-178) and Schedule 4 (items 1-5): 5 Aug 2009

--

Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011

46, 2011

27 June 2011

Schedule 2 (items 968, 969) and Schedule 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011

Sch. 3 (items 10, 11) [see Table A]


(a)     The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was amended by section 3 only of the Administrative Changes (Consequential Provisions) Act 1976, subsection 2(7) of which provides as follows:

                 (7)   The amendments of each other Act specified in the Schedule made by this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on 22 December 1975.

(b)     The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was amended by Schedule 43 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001, subsection 2(1)(a) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the later of the following times:

                              (a)   immediately after the commencement of item 15 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000;

         Item 15 commenced on 24 May 2001.

(c)     Subsection 2(1) (item 7) of the Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, on the day or at the time specified in column 2 of the table.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

7.  Schedule 2, items 23 to 28

The later of:

(a) immediately after the commencement of the Age Discrimination Act 2004; and

(b) immediately after the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Act 2004

 

         The Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Bill 2004 was not enacted. Therefore the amendment made by Schedule 2 (item 27) did not commence.


Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted  am. = amended  rep. = repealed  rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

Part I

 

S. 2......................................

am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986

S. 3......................................

am. No. 18, 1980 (as am. by No. 25, 1981); No. 126, 1986; No. 38, 1988; No. 179, 1992; No. 133, 1999; No. 73, 2008; No. 70, 2009

S. 4......................................

am. No. 18, 1980

S. 6......................................

am. No. 18, 1980

 

rs. No. 126, 1986

S. 6A...................................

ad. No. 38, 1983

 

am. No. 126, 1986; No. 133, 1999; No. 70, 2009

S. 6B...................................

ad. No. 24, 2001

Part II

 

S. 9......................................

am. No. 115, 1990

S. 10....................................

am. No. 18, 1980; No. 126, 1986

S. 11....................................

am. No. 43, 1996

S. 12....................................

am. No. 126, 1986

S. 13....................................

am. No. 43, 1996

S. 15....................................

am. No. 126, 1986; No. 43, 1996

S. 16....................................

am. No. 126, 1986

S. 18....................................

rs. No. 115, 1990

S. 18A.................................

ad. No. 115, 1990

Part IIA

 

Part IIA ...............................

ad. No. 101, 1995

S. 18B.................................

ad. No. 101, 1995

S. 18C.................................

ad. No. 101, 1995

Note to s. 18C(1)...............

am. No. 133, 1999; No. 70, 2009

Ss. 18D-18F.......................

ad. No. 101, 1995

Part III

 

Heading to Part III.............

rs. No. 133, 1999

Part III ................................

rs. No. 126, 1986

Division 1

 

S. 19....................................

rs. No. 126, 1986

S. 19A.................................

ad. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 20....................................

am. No. 18, 1980 (as am. by No. 25, 1981)

 

rs. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 101, 1995; No. 133, 1999; No. 70, 2009

Note to s. 20............................

ad. No. 133, 1999

 

am. No. 70, 2009

S. 20A.................................

ad. No. 18, 1980

 

rep. No. 126, 1986

S. 21....................................

am. No. 18, 1980

 

rs. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 22....................................

am. No. 18, 1980

 

rs. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 179, 1992; No. 101, 1995

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 23....................................

am. No. 18, 1980

 

rs. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Div. 2 of Part III..................

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 24....................................

am. No. 18, 1980

 

rs. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 38, 1988; No. 165, 1992; No. 101, 1995

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Ss. 24AA, 24AB..................

ad. No. 165, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Ss. 24A-24E.......................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Div. 3 of Part III..................

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 24F.................................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25....................................

rs. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Ss. 25A-25H.......................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Ss. 25J, 25K.......................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Ss. 25L, 25M.......................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

rs. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25MA..............................

ad. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25N.................................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25P.................................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

rs. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Ss. 25Q-25U......................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25V.................................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Ss. 25W, 25X......................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 101, 1995

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25Y.................................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25Z.................................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 38, 1988; No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25ZA...............................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 165, 1992

 

rs. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25ZAA.............................

ad. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 59, 1995

S. 25ZAB.............................

ad. No. 179, 1992

 

am. No. 13, 1994

 

rep. No. 59, 1995

S. 25ZAC............................

ad. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 59, 1995

S. 25ZB...............................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Div. 3A of Part III ...............

ad. No. 59, 1995
rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 25ZC...............................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 179, 1992; No. 13, 1994

 

rs. No. 59, 1995

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Ss. 25ZCA-25ZCF.............

ad. No. 59, 1995

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Div. 4 of Part III .................

ad. No. 179, 1992
rep. No. 133, 1999

Ss. 25ZD-25ZI...................

ad. No. 179, 1992

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

Part IV

 

S. 26....................................

am. No. 101, 1995

S. 27....................................

am. No. 18, 1980; No. 126, 1986; No. 133, 1999; No. 24, 2001; No. 70, 2009

Ss. 27A-27D.......................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 133, 1999

S. 27E.................................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 133, 1999

 

rep. No. 137, 2000

S. 27F.................................

ad. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 24, 2001; No. 70, 2009

Note to s. 27F(3)................

ad. No. 24, 2001

Part V..................................

rep. No. 70, 2009

S. 28....................................

am. No. 91, 1976; No. 18, 1980; No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 70, 2009

Part VI

 

Heading to Part VI.............

rs. No. 70, 2009

Heading to Div. 1 of Part VI.............................

rs. No. 126, 1986

 

rep. No. 70, 2009

S. 29....................................

rs. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 59, 1995; No. 70, 2009

S. 30....................................

rs. No. 126, 1986

 

am. No. 133, 1999

S. 31....................................

am. No. 126, 1986; No. 59, 1995

S. 32....................................

am. No. 91, 1976

 

rs. No. 132, 1992

 

am. No. 146, 1999

S. 33....................................

am. No. 126, 1986

S. 34....................................

am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986; No. 132, 1992

S. 35....................................

am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986

S. 36....................................

am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986; No. 132, 1992; No. 13, 1994; No. 46, 2011

Note to s. 36(1)..................

ad. No. 46, 2011

S. 37....................................

rep. No. 126, 1986

S. 38....................................

rep. No. 18, 1980

S. 39....................................

rep. No. 126, 1986

S. 40....................................

rs. No. 18, 1980

 

am. No. 126, 1986; No. 132, 1992

Div. 2 of Part VI..................

rep. No. 70, 2009

S. 41....................................

am. No. 91, 1976; No. 126, 1986; No. 73, 2008

 

rep. No. 70, 2009

S. 42....................................

am. No. 126, 1986; No. 59, 1995

 

rep. No. 70, 2009

S. 43....................................

am. No. 126, 1986; No. 73, 2008

 

rep. No. 70, 2009

Part VII

 

S. 44A.................................

ad. No. 18, 1980

 

rep. No. 126, 1986

S. 45....................................

am. No. 18, 1980

 

rep. No. 126, 1986

 

ad. No. 38, 1988

 

am. No. 133, 1999; No. 70, 2009

S. 45A.................................

ad. No. 18, 1980

 

am. No. 126, 1986

S. 46....................................

am. No. 91, 1976

 

rep. No. 18, 1980

S. 47....................................

am. No. 126, 1986; No. 70, 2009


Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999 (No. 133, 1999)

4  Interpretation

                   In this Part:

appropriate Commissioner means:

                     (a)  in relation to a complaint lodged under the old DDA--the Disability Discrimination Commissioner; and

                     (b)  in relation to a complaint lodged under the old RDA--the Race Discrimination Commissioner; and

                     (c)  in relation to a complaint lodged under the old SDA--the Sex Discrimination Commissioner.

Court means the Federal Court of Australia.

holding of an inquiry means a holding of an inquiry referred to in a notice given under:

                     (a)  section 83 of the old DDA; or

                     (b)  section 25E of the old RDA; or

                     (c)  section 63 of the old SDA.

new HREOCA means the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 as amended by Schedule 1 to this Act.

old DDA means the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 before being amended by Schedule 1 to this Act.

old RDA means the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 before being amended by Schedule 1 to this Act.

old SDA means the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 before being amended by Schedule 1 to this Act.

purported complaint means a document purporting to be a complaint.

starting day means the day on which this Part commences.

5  Purported complaint lodged but no decision as to whether it is a complaint

             (1)  A purported complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  it was lodged with the Commission; and

                     (b)  the Commission had not decided whether it was a complaint within the meaning of the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA.

             (2)  On the starting day:

                     (a)  the purported complaint is taken to have been lodged under section 46P of the new HREOCA; and

                     (b)  the Commission must then decide whether it is a complaint within the meaning of the new HREOCA.

6  Administrative appeal on Commission's decision as to whether complaint

             (1)  A purported complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if:

                     (a)  before the starting day, the Commission decided that it was, or was not, a complaint within the meaning of the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA; and

                     (b)  on or after the starting day, the Court makes an order under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 to refer the matter to which the decision relates to the Commission for further consideration.

             (2)  On the day on which the order is made:

                     (a)  the purported complaint is taken to have been lodged under section 46P of the new HREOCA; and

                     (b)  the Commission must then decide whether it is a complaint within the meaning of the new HREOCA.

7  Complaint lodged but Commissioner not notified of it

             (1)  A purported complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  it was lodged with the Commission; and

                     (b)  the Commission decided that it was a complaint within the meaning of the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA; and

                     (c)  the Commission had not notified the appropriate Commissioner of it.

             (2)  On the starting day:

                     (a)  the purported complaint is taken to have been lodged under section 46P of the new HREOCA; and

                     (b)  the Commission is taken to have decided that it is a complaint within the meaning of the new HREOCA.

8  Commissioner notified of complaint but had not decided to dismiss or refer it

             (1)  A complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  the Commission had notified the appropriate Commissioner of the complaint; and

                     (b)  the appropriate Commissioner had not made a decision not to inquire, or not to continue to inquire, into the complaint; and

                     (c)  the appropriate Commissioner had not referred the complaint to the Commission.

             (2)  On the starting day, the complaint is taken to have been referred to the President under section 46PD of the new HREOCA.

9  Commissioner decided to dismiss complaint

             (1)  A complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if:

                     (a)  before the starting day, the appropriate Commissioner decided not to inquire, or not to continue to inquire, into the complaint; and

                     (b)  on the starting day, the complainant could have required the appropriate Commissioner to:

                              (i)  refer the complaint to the President under section 71 of the old DDA if that section had not been repealed by this Act; or

                             (ii)  refer the Commissioner's decision to the President, or refer the complaint to the Commission, under section 24 of the old RDA if that section had not been repealed by this Act; or

                            (iii)  refer the Commissioner's decision to the President, or refer the complaint to the Commission, under section 52 of the old SDA if that section had not been repealed by this Act.

             (2)  On the starting day, the President is taken to have terminated the complaint under section 46PH of the new HREOCA.

Note:          The President is required to give a notice of termination of the complaint under section 14 of this Act.

10  Presidential review of Commissioner's decision to dismiss complaint

             (1)  A complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  the appropriate Commissioner decided not to inquire, or not to continue to inquire, into the complaint; and

                     (b)  the complainant required the appropriate Commissioner to refer the complaint, or the Commissioner's decision, to the President; and

                     (c)  the President had not made a decision under whichever of the following sections is applicable:

                              (i)  section 101 of the old DDA;

                             (ii)  section 24AA of the old RDA;

                            (iii)  section 52A of the old SDA.

             (2)  On the starting day, the President is taken to have terminated the complaint under section 46PH of the new HREOCA.

Note:          The President is required to give a notice of termination of the complaint under section 14 of this Act.

11  Administrative review of President's decision

             (1)  A complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if:

                     (a)  before the starting day, the President made a decision in relation to the complaint under:

                              (i)  section 101 of the old DDA; or

                             (ii)  section 24AA of the old RDA; or

                            (iii)  section 52A of the old SDA; and

                     (b)  on or after the starting day, the Court makes an order under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 to refer the matter to which the decision relates to the Commission for further consideration.

             (2)  On the day the order is made, the President is taken to have terminated the complaint under section 46PH of the new HREOCA.

Note:          The President is required to give a notice of termination of the complaint under section 14 of this Act.

12  Complaint referred to Commission but inquiry not started

             (1)  A complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  the appropriate Commissioner referred the complaint to the Commission; and

                     (b)  a holding of an inquiry into the complaint had not started under the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA; and

                     (c)  the complaint had not been withdrawn under whichever of the following sections is applicable:

                              (i)  section 79 of the old DDA;

                             (ii)  section 25A of the old RDA;

                            (iii)  section 59 of the old SDA.

             (2)  On the starting day, the President is taken to have terminated the complaint under section 46PH of the new HREOCA.

Note:          The President is required to give a notice of termination of the complaint under section 14 of this Act.

13  Inquiry started

             (1)  A complaint is treated in the way set out in subsection (2) if, before the starting day:

                     (a)  a holding of an inquiry into the complaint had started under the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA; and

                     (b)  the complaint had not been withdrawn under whichever of the following sections is applicable:

                              (i)  section 79 of the old DDA;

                             (ii)  section 25A of the old RDA;

                            (iii)  section 59 of the old SDA.

             (2)  The amendments made by Schedule 1 to this Act do not apply in relation to the complaint.

14  Notice of termination

             (1)  If the President is taken to have terminated a complaint under section 9, 10, 11 or 12, then the President must notify the complainants in writing of the termination and the reasons for the termination.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply if all the complainants requested the appropriate Commissioner not to inquire into the complaint.

             (3)  The President must give a person a copy of the notice that was given to the complainants under subsection (1) if:

                     (a)  the person was a person on whose behalf the complaint was lodged; and

                     (b)  the person requested the President for a copy of the notice.

             (4)  The President is not required to notify any person under section 46PH of the new HREOCA.

15  Work done by Commissioner is taken to have been done by President

                   Any thing done, or information obtained, by the appropriate Commissioner in relation to a complaint that is referred to the President under section 8 is taken to have been done or obtained by the President.

16  Special rules apply to proceedings to enforce a determination

                   Sections 46PQ, 46PR and 46PT of the new HREOCA apply for the purposes of proceedings in the Court:

                     (a)  for an order to enforce a determination in relation to a complaint; or

                     (b)  for an order directing a Commonwealth agency (or the principal executive of a Commonwealth agency) to comply;

if the proceedings started on or after the starting day under:

                     (c)  section 105A or 106F of the old DDA; or

                     (d)  section 25ZC or 25ZI of the old RDA; or

                     (e)  section 83A or 84F of the old SDA.

17  Protection from civil actions

                   The amendments made by items 30, 31, 83, 84, 119 and 120 of Schedule 1 do not apply to a complaint lodged before the starting day under the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA.

18  Referrals under the old SDA

                   The amendments made by items 1, 2, 85, 86, 97, 100, 122, 123, 124 and 125 of Schedule 1 do not apply to a complaint lodged before the starting day under section 50A, 50C or 50E of the old SDA.

19  Inquiries started by Human Rights Commissioner

                   The amendment made by item 52 of Schedule 1 does not apply in relation to an inquiry that the Human Rights Commissioner started before the starting day.

20  When a person cannot lodge a complaint under the new HREOCA

                   A person cannot lodge a complaint under section 46P of the new HREOCA if:

                     (a)  the person is a class member for a representative complaint in respect of the same subject matter; and

                     (b)  a holding of an inquiry into the representative complaint had started under the old DDA, old RDA or old SDA.

21  Regulations

             (1)  The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters:

                     (a)  required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

                     (b)  necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

             (2)  In particular, regulations may be made in relation to matters of a transitional or saving nature arising out of the enactment of this Act.

22  Transitional--powers of a Secretary

                   A thing done by the Commission before the commencement of this section in exercising powers referred to in subsection 43(2) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 has effect, for the purpose of the exercise by the President after the commencement of this section of powers referred to in that subsection, as if the thing had been done by the President.

 

Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000 (No. 137, 2000)

Schedule 2

418  Transitional--pre-commencement offences

(1)       Despite the amendment or repeal of a provision by this Schedule, that provision continues to apply, after the commencement of this item, in relation to:

                     (a)  an offence committed before the commencement of this item; or

                     (b)  proceedings for an offence alleged to have been committed before the commencement of this item; or

                     (c)  any matter connected with, or arising out of, such proceedings;

as if the amendment or repeal had not been made.

(2)       Subitem (1) does not limit the operation of section 8 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

419  Transitional--pre-commencement notices

If:

                     (a)  a provision in force immediately before the commencement of this item required that a notice set out the effect of one or more other provisions; and

                     (b)  any or all of those other provisions are repealed by this Schedule; and

                     (c)  the first-mentioned provision is amended by this Schedule;

the amendment of the first-mentioned provision by this Schedule does not affect the validity of such a notice that was given before the commencement of this item.

 

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 (No. 24, 2001)

4  Application of amendments

             (1)  Subject to subsection (3), each amendment made by this Act applies to acts and omissions that take place after the amendment commences.

             (2)  For the purposes of this section, if an act or omission is alleged to have taken place between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the day on which a particular amendment commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken place before the amendment commences.

 

Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011 (No. 46, 2011)

Schedule 3

10  Saving--appointments

The amendments made by Schedule 2 do not affect the validity of an appointment that was made under an Act before the commencement of this item and that was in force immediately before that commencement.

11  Transitional regulations

The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to the amendments and repeals made by Schedules 1 and 2.


 



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