(1) A person commits
an act of victimisation against another person (the
"victim") if he or she causes detriment to the victim on the ground, that the
victim has provided, or intends to provide, information or other assistance to
an RCA team in connection with an investigation under this Part.
(2) An act of
victimisation under this section may be dealt with—
(a) as a
tort; or
(b) as
if it were an act of victimisation under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984
,
but, if the victim commences proceedings in a court seeking a remedy in tort,
he or she cannot subsequently lodge a complaint under the Equal Opportunity
Act 1984 , and conversely, if the victim lodges a complaint under that
Act, he or she cannot subsequently commence proceedings in a court seeking a
remedy in tort.
(3) Where a complaint
alleging an act of victimisation under this section has been lodged with the
Commissioner for Equal Opportunity and the Commissioner is of the opinion that
the subject matter of the complaint has already been adequately dealt with by
a competent authority, the Commissioner may decline to act on the complaint or
to proceed further with action on the complaint.
(4) In this
section—
"detriment" includes—
(a)
injury, damage or loss; or
(b)
intimidation or harassment; or
(c)
discrimination, disadvantage or adverse treatment in relation to the victim's
employment or business; or
(d)
threats of reprisal.