Discrimination:

Discrimination is treating, or proposing to treat, someone unfavorably because of a personal characteristic protected by the law. This includes bullying someone because of a protected characteristic.

Types of discrimination

Direct discrimination

Direct discrimination happens when someone is treated unfavorably because of a personal characteristic protected by the law. Direct discrimination often happens because people make unfair assumptions about what people with certain personal characteristics can and cannot do.

Indirect discrimination

Indirect discrimination occurs when an unreasonable requirement, condition or practice is imposed that disadvantages a person or group because of a personal characteristic.

Victimisation

Victimisation is subjecting, or threatening to subject, someone to something detrimental because they have asserted their rights under equal opportunity law, made a complaint, helped someone else to make a complaint, or refused to do something because it would be discrimination, sexual harassment or victimisation.

Where can discrimination occur?

Discrimination is against the law when it occurs in an area of public life such as clubs, schools and shops, or in the workplace.

Make a complaint to the Commission

If you think you have been discriminated against, sexually harassed, victimised, contact us and talk about your concerns. Our dispute resolution service is free and confidential. We can send you information about the complaint process and if we can’t help you we will try to refer you to someone who can.