How Is Discrimination Described in the Act?

The Act describes discrimination in terms of the behaviour of Person A towards Person B.

Person A’s behaviour will be unlawful:

  • in certain situations; and

  • despite the main reason for the behaviour being unrelated to being discriminatory.


Certain situations

The Act makes certain behaviours unlawful in certain situations involving behaviour by:

  • an employer,

  • a principal (contractor),

  • a firm of 6 or more partners (or alternatively, by one or more of those partners within the partnership),

  • local government councillors,

  • industrial organisations (for example, a union),

  • qualifying bodies (for example, entities that grant licences),

  • employment agencies,

  • an educational authority,

  • someone providing goods and services,

  • someone offering accommodation, and

  • registered clubs.


The main reason for the behaviour

It doesn’t matter whether discriminating against Person B was the main reason for Person A’s behaviour.

It is enough that one of the reasons for engaging in that behaviour was to discriminate against Person B on the basis of disability.


Elizabeth (Liz) Greenwood

Senior Policy Manager, Business NSW

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What is a Disability?