30 years of the Anti-Discrimination Act

Linda Burney, NSW Minister for Fair Trading, Youth and Volunteering and a former ADB Board Member reflects on the thirtieth anniversary of the Anti-Discrimination Act

The thirtieth anniversary of the Anti-Discrimination Act is a time for celebration.

It has long been recognised that a fundamental pillar of democracy is that all citizens should be treated equally.

The beauty of humanity is its diversity. Gender, race, ability, religion, culture and other factors create this wonderful diversity.

But sometimes unfair distinctions between individuals and groups are made because of these differences and that results in unequal treatment.

It was not that long ago that Aboriginal people in NSW were refused entry to public swimming pools, pubs and hotels because of the colour of their skin – and there was no recourse or remedy.

In 1977 the Wran Labor Government passed the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act. At the time it was a radical reform, coming just after the federal 1975 Racial Discrimination Act.

Since its introduction the Act has helped restore self esteem and dignity for people who have been discriminated against.

By investigating and conciliating discrimination complaints the Anti-Discrimination Board has provided important protections from prejudice and discrimination in key areas of life. These include employment, education and the provision of goods and services.

We know that legislation alone does not change community attitudes.

Prejudice often arises from misunderstandings and fear of the unknown.

Too often, human rights are seen as abstract theoretical principles, remote from everyday life.

And so as part of celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the legislation, we also acknowledge the community education work that the Anti Discrimination Board has undertaken.

I was a member of the Anti-Discrimination Board from 1992 to 1998 and saw its work first hand.

The Board informs and educates the community, employers and service providers about their rights and responsibilities under the legislation.

By doing this it also helps develop an understanding of what it means to treat other people with respect for their rights and dignity.

By promoting public awareness about the legislation and the principles that underpin it, the Board is proactively working to ensure a more inclusive society.

It is important to mark anniversaries ­ like this one ­ and keep the spirit alive.

We need community education, engagement and leadership.

It is not just the responsibility of the Board or the legislation – addressing discrimination is everyone’s responsibility.

We all need to have the courage to speak out against discrimination even when it is unpopular.
It is time to renew our commitment to human rights and building a society that is tolerant, harmonious and free of discrimination.