Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act was set for its most significant overhaul in 30 years, with vital reforms due to take effect on 1 July 2025. These changes were designed to modernise legal protections, expand safeguards for vulnerable communities, and introduce a positive duty requiring organisations to actively prevent discrimination, harassment, and vilification. Now, these reforms have been put on hold, raising serious concerns about the future of anti-discrimination protections in Queensland.
The legislation was the result of years of consultation and careful review, including recommendations from the Queensland Human Rights Commission’s Building Belonging report. It proposed key updates, such as new protections for victim-survivors of domestic violence, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals with irrelevant criminal records. It also introduced a ban on hostile work environments based on sex, and strengthened vilification protections.
The Attorney-General has announced that the reforms are being paused to allow for further consultation. However, this decision means that thousands of Queenslanders remain without the legal protections they urgently need. Without these changes, discrimination and harassment will continue to go unchecked in workplaces, schools, and public spaces. The absence of a positive duty also means that businesses and organisations are not legally required to take proactive steps to prevent harm before it happens. As Working Women Queensland director Ellie Dalton told The Australian, delaying the reforms means Queensland women “will continue to face discrimination and harassment without the legal protections they need and deserve”.
These reforms are not just legal updates—they are a commitment to fairness, inclusion, and human dignity. The delay undermines the progress Queensland has made in tackling discrimination and ensuring equal rights for all. Advocates, legal experts, and community organisations overwhelmingly support these reforms, recognising them as a necessary step forward. We joined with over 30 community organisations to raise these concerns directly with the Queensland Government (read the letter):
