Age Discrimination Act 2004

The Age Discrimination Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that prohibits age discrimination in many areas including employment, education, accommodation and the provision of goods and services. Persons of any age can be discriminated against within the meaning of the act.[2]

Age Discrimination Act 2004
Parliament of Australia
Long title An Act relating to discrimination on the ground of age
Citation	Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)
Enacted by	House of Representatives
Enacted by	Senate
Royal assent	22 June 2004
Commenced	23 June 2004
Legislative history
Bill introduced in the House of Representatives	Age Discrimination Bill 2003
Introduced by	Daryl Williams[1]
First reading	26 June 2003
Second reading	26 November 2003
Third reading	26 November 2003
Bill introduced in the Senate	Age Discrimination Bill 2003
First reading	1 December 2003
Second reading	3 December 2003
Third reading	29 March 2004
Amended by
Age Discrimination Amendment Act 2006 (Cth)
Related legislation
Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004 (Cth)
Status: In force

Some exemptions are provided, including for religious organisations, charitable organisations and positive discrimination.

Complaints of discrimination must first be made to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), where a conciliation process can be initiated. Filing a complaint is free.[3] If the complaint is not resolved through the conciliation process, it can be taken to the Federal Court or the Federal Circuit Court.

In general, age discrimination is not a criminal offence. However, the Act creates criminal offences of discriminatory advertising, victimisation and failure to disclose statistical or actuarial data upon request by the President of the AHRC. [4]