Queensland Consolidated Acts

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ACT 1991 - SECT Preamble

Preamble

Parliament’s reasons for enacting this Act are—

1 The international community has long recognised the need to protect and preserve the principles of dignity and equality for everyone.

2 This is reflected in a number of international human rights instruments that the Commonwealth has ratified, including—

• the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

• the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

• the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 111—Discrimination (Employment and Occupation)

• the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 156—Workers with Family Responsibilities

• the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• the Convention on the Rights of the Child

• the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons

• the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons.

3 The Parliament is supportive of the Commonwealth’s ratification of these international instruments.

4 In fulfilling its obligations under these international instruments the Commonwealth has enacted certain human rights legislation.

5 The Parliament is satisfied that there is a need—

(a) to extend the Commonwealth legislation; and

(b) to apply anti-discrimination law consistently throughout the State; and

(c) to ensure that determinations of unlawful conduct are enforceable in the courts of law.

6 The Parliament considers that—

(a) everyone should be equal before and under the law and have the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination; and

(b) the protection of fragile freedoms is best effected by legislation that reflects the aspirations and needs of contemporary society; and

(c) the quality of democratic life is improved by an educated community appreciative and respectful of the dignity and worth of everyone.

7 It is, therefore, the intention of the Parliament to make provision, by the special measures enacted by the Act , for the promotion of equality of opportunity for everyone by protecting them from unfair discrimination in certain areas of activity and from sexual harassment and certain associated objectionable conduct.