Disability Discrimination Act Review – Community Survey

Closes 24 Oct 2025

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Part 4 – Improving access to justice

This section asks questions about improving access to justice for people with disability under the Disability Discrimination Act.

We are looking at ways to improve protections for people with disability, including:

  • stronger rules against offensive behaviour
  • addressing discrimination within the justice system.

Currently, there isn’t enough protection against offensive behaviour and hate speech (also known as vilification). The review is looking at:

  • making it illegal to harass, threaten, or spread hate about people with disability.
  • extending protection to online spaces (such as social media).

It is also looking at better protection when dealing with police and the justice system.

9. How could the Disability Discrimination Act be updated to protect people with disability from offensive behaviour or stop people from spreading hate about people with disability (vilification)?

Click here for more information about offensive behaviour

Offensive behaviour is when someone says or does something serious about a person’s disability that could:

  • intimidate them – make them feel scared or unsafe
  • humiliate them – make them feel very bad
  • offend them – make them very upset 
  • insult them – make them very angry.

Vilification happens when someone spreads hate about people with disability.

For example, you might like to comment on how harassment and offensive behaviour could be defined.

10. Should the Disability Discrimination Act be changed to better protect people with disability when dealing with police?

(Please select one)