WA’s parliament has passed laws to update the Equal Opportunity Act 1984, in what the government calls the biggest reforms in nearly 50 years.
WA’s Equal Opportunity Commissioner can now hear a wider range of complaints about discrimination on grounds of disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex.
The reforms also make it unlawful to discriminate against people who are homeless, exposed to family and domestic violence, pregnant or breastfeeding, who have caring responsibilities, or are involved in trade union activity.
Premier Roger Cook said the modernisation of the state’s anti-discrimination, harassment, and vilification laws was long overdue and now brought WA’s regime in line with other states.