Tuesday, 16 August 2022
The Law Society welcomes the announcement today by the Attorney General, the Hon John Quigley MLA that the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia’s final report “Review of Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)” was tabled in State Parliament. The final report makes 163 recommendations to make the State’s anti-discrimination laws fair and effective, and ensure that all workplaces in Western Australia are free from harassment. Most of the 163 recommendations have been broadly accepted by the State Government.
The new Act will bring Western Australia into line with other jurisdictions and ensure the State has modern, fair and effective anti-discrimination laws that make it easier for the community – including individuals, employers and service providers – to read and understand their rights and obligations.
In October 2021, the Law Society made a submission to the Chair of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, Lindy Jenkins, in response to the Law Reform Commission’s invitation for written submissions on a review of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984. The submission is available on the Law Society’s website here: https://www.lawsocietywa.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2021OCT28-Letter-and-submission-to-Law-Reform-Commission-WA-re-Equal-Opportunity-Act-C4.pdf
The President of the Law Society, Rebecca Lee, said: “The Law Society is pleased to have been given the opportunity to contribute to this important and timely project of the Law Reform Commission to review Western Australia’s Equal Opportunity Act 1984, and looks forward to being provided with the draft legislation for further comment on this important area of law reform. While the Act posed a significant social reform when it was first introduced 38 years ago, the time has come for Western Australia to amend the legislation with a new anti-discrimination and broader human rights framework that protects all members of our community, equally.”
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For comment please contact:
Madeleine McErlain
Manager Corporate Communications
(08) 9324 8650
mmcerlain@lawsocietywa.asn.au
The Law Society of Western Australia is the peak professional association for lawyers in the State. The Society is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the representation of its more than 4,000 members. The Society enhances the legal profession through its position as a respected leader and contributor on law reform, access to justice and the rule of law. The Society is widely acknowledged by the legal profession, government and the community as the voice of the legal profession in Western Australia.
