In this section you can find information about:

• the Main Functions of the Legal Section;
  
  
• Legislation administered by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission:

  • Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986

  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975

  • Sex Discrimination Act 1984

  • Disability Discrimination Act 1992
    
    

• the Commission's Amicus Curiae role;
  
  
• the Commission's Intervention Role;
  
  
• Exemptions under the Sex Discrimination Act;
  
  
• Reports to the Minister under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act;
  
  
• HREOC decisions prior to the transfer of the hearing function to the Federal Court and the Federal Magistrates Service;
  
  
• Discrimination cases in the Federal Court and the Federal Magistrates Service;
  
  
• Legal Links;
  
  
• the Legal Mailing List Service; and
  
  
• Legal Bulletins prepared by the Legal Section.

Recent work includes:

• The Legal Section prepared a report on a complaint of human rights abuse in an immigration detention centre. The Commission produces such reports where there is an allegation of an act or practice inconsistent with or contrary to human rights. In this case, it was alleged that detainees were not provided with legal advice, and were held in separation accomodation. To view the report click here.

Join the Legal Information Mailing List

HREOC's COMPLAINTS & LEGAL Electronic Mailing List provides information on Complaint Handling and Legal Issues including Summaries of Federal Court and Federal Magistrates Service Decisions and the Legal Bulletin - produced by the Legal section three to four times a year.

To join the Complaints and Legal Mailing List send a blank email (no text in the body of the message) to join-complaints_legal@list.humanrights.gov.au

For further information on HREOC's Electronic Mailing List Service click here.