Last Updated 17 August 2021

The Anti-discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) (Anti-discrimination Act) provides that certain acts are criminal offences. These can be prosecuted in the Magistrates Court and include:

  • publishing or displaying a discriminatory advertisement (s 127)
  • victimisation of another who is proceeding or who intends to proceed under the Anti-discrimination Act (s 129)
  • serious racial, religious, sexuality or gender identity vilification (s 131A).

The Anti-discrimination Act also makes it an offence to ignore or interfere with the various directions and orders that the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner or the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) may make, and to prevent the commissioner from carrying out the functions of the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC). The Act also contains provisions that prevent the misuse of information by staff of the QHRC and QCAT.