During the pandemic, and while various restrictions are in place, people have the right to live and work in a discrimination and harassment free environment.
People have the right not to be discriminated against because of their age, race, sex, disability, family responsibilities and a number of other grounds.
Disability includes any medical condition, including coronavirus (COVID-19).
It is also against the law to treat a person less favourably on the assumption that they have COVID-19.
Examples of unlawful discrimination and prohibited conduct
- Making racist comments towards people because of their race. Race includes a person’s skin colour, nationality, ethnic background and immigrant status.
- Reducing someone’s hours or terminating someone’s employment because they have COVID-19, or have a family member who is in isolation, or have completed a period of quarantine due to suspected COVID-19.
- Refusing to rent a property to someone because of their race, or because they have COVID-19.
- Cancelling a rental contract/agreement because you think someone may get COVID-19 because that person is a health care worker.
- Refusing to serve a customer because of their race, or because they are wearing a mask.
- Not providing proper services or support to someone with disability when those services could be provided while COVID-19 restrictions are in place.
More information can be found here.
Information about making a complaint about discrimination is available on the Work45+ website here.
