Disability Discrimination Act Review – Community Survey - Part 1 – Updating understandings of disability and disability discrimination - Attorney-General's Department

Part 1 – Updating understandings of disability and disability discrimination

This section asks questions about how disability and disability discrimination are defined in the Disability Discrimination Act.

Click here to read about the definition of disability More Information

The definition of ‘disability’ in the Disability Discrimination Act might need to change so that:

It uses respectful language instead of outdated terms.
It recognises that some people face more than one type of discrimination. For example, due to disability and gender, race, or age.

Click here to read about the definition of discrimination More Information

The definition of ‘discrimination’ in the Disability Discrimination Act might need to change so that:

It is simple and easy to understand.
The law can be used in everyday life to protect people with disability.

1. What should the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act include?

2. How much do you agree or disagree with these statements about how the Disability Discrimination Act defines discrimination?

Click here for more information on what discrimination means Click here for more information on what discrimination means

Direct discrimination happens when a person with a disability is treated differently because of their disability. Right now, different treatment is shown by comparing how the person with disability was treated against a person without their disability.

Indirect discrimination happens when a rule or policy applies to everyone but disadvantages people with disability. Right now, indirect discrimination is allowed if it is reasonable in the circumstances or if avoiding discrimination would put an unjustifiable hardship on the duty holder.

Unjustifiable hardship means that something would be too difficult for a duty holder to do to prevent discrimination.