Legislation:

South Australian law does not cover this ground of discrimination, and Commonwealth laws applying in South Australia cover discrimination on this ground in the area of work only.

Commonwealth law

In Commonwealth law, it is unlawful to impair equality of opportunity or treatment in the workplace because of an irrelevant criminal record [s 3 reg 6].

This includes refusing to hire a person because of an irrelevant criminal record, hiring them on less favourable terms, denying them access to any benefits that go with the job, or subjecting them to other adverse treatment. Commonwealth law does not cover this type of discrimination in any other area apart from the equality of opportunity in the workplace.

It does not, however, include any distinction, exclusion or preference in respect of a particular job based on the inherent requirements of the job or in connection with employment as a member of the staff of an institution that is conducted in accordance with the doctrines, tenets, beliefs or teachings of a particular religion [s 3].

Complaints

The Australian Human Rights Commission can accept such complaints but cannot take them beyond the stage of conciliation. It can report about them to the Federal Attorney-General.

The word "irrelevant" was added to this ground of discrimination from 1 October 2019, in part to address concerns raised by the Commission in its report BE v Suncorp Group Ltd [2018] AusHRC 121.