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Human Rights Commission Act 2005
53CParties to ACAT proceeding on discrimination complaint
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53C Parties to ACAT proceeding on discrimination complaint
The parties to a complaint referred to the ACAT under this division
are—
(a) the complainant; and
(b) the respondent; and
Note The commission is the complainant in relation to a commission-initiated
consideration (see dict, def complainant).
53CA Onus of establishing complaint about discrimination etc
(1) This section applies to a discrimination complaint, referred to the
ACAT under this division, about discrimination by a person against
another person by—
(a) treating, or proposing to treat, the other person unfavourably
because of a protected attribute of the other person (direct
discrimination); or
(b) imposing, or proposing to impose, a condition or requirement
that has, or is likely to have, the effect of disadvantaging the
other person because of a protected attribute of the other person
(other than a condition or requirement that is reasonable in the
circumstances) (indirect discrimination).
(2) It is a rebuttable presumption that discrimination has occurred if the
complainant—
(a) establishes that—
(i) for a complaint about direct discrimination—the treatment
or proposed treatment is unfavourable; and
(ii) for a complaint about indirect discrimination—the
condition or requirement has, or is likely to have, an effect
of disadvantaging the other person; and
(b) presents evidence that would enable the ACAT to decide, in the
absence of any other explanation—
(i) for a complaint about direct discrimination—that the
treatment or proposed treatment is because of a protected
attribute of the other person; or
(ii) for a complaint about indirect discrimination—that the
effect of disadvantaging the other person is because of a
protected attribute of the other person.
(3) The presumption under subsection (2) is rebutted if the respondent
establishes that—
(a) for a complaint about direct discrimination—the treatment is not
because of a protected attribute of the other person; or
(b) for a complaint about indirect discrimination—the effect of
disadvantaging a person is not because of a protected attribute
of the other person.
Note The onus of establishing an exception or exemption to discrimination is
on the person seeking to rely on it (see Discrimination Act 1991, s 70).
protected attribute means a protected attribute under the
Discrimination Act 1991.