2026
A Bill
for
An Act to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991, the
Corrective Services Act 2006, the Criminal Code and the Human
Rights Act 2019 for particular purposes
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Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 1]
Strengthening Protections for Queensland Workers Amendment Bill 2026
Part 1 Preliminary
The Parliament of Queensland enacts—
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Protections for
Queensland Workers Amendment Act 2026.
Part 2 Amendment of
Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
2 Act amended
This part and schedule 1 amend the Anti-Discrimination Act
1991.
3 Amendment of long title
(1) Long title, ‘equality of opportunity’—
omit, insert—
equal opportunity and equitable outcomes
(2) Long title, after ‘harassment’—
insert—
, harassment on the basis of sex
4 Amendment of preamble
(1) Preamble, paragraph 7, ‘equality of opportunity’—
omit, insert—
equal opportunity and equitable outcomes
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Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 5]
Strengthening Protections for Queensland Workers Amendment Bill 2026
Part 2 Amendment of Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
(2) Preamble, paragraph 7, after ‘harassment’—
insert—
, harassment on the basis of sex
5 Amendment of s 6 (Act’s anti-discrimination purpose and
how it is to be achieved)
Section 6(1), ‘equality of opportunity’—
omit, insert—
equal opportunity and equitable outcomes
6 Amendment of s 7 (Discrimination on the basis of certain
attributes prohibited)
(1) Section 7(c), after ‘pregnancy’—
insert—
or potential pregnancy
(2) Section 7(n)—
omit, insert—
(n) sexual orientation;
(3) Section 7(p)—
omit, insert—
(p) family, carer or kinship responsibilities;
(pa) subjection to domestic or family violence;
(pb) homelessness;
(pc) physical appearance;
(pd) expunged conviction;
(pe) irrelevant medical record;
(4) Section 7—
insert—
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Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 7]
Strengthening Protections for Queensland Workers Amendment Bill 2026
Part 2 Amendment of Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
(r) a combination of 2 or more of any of the
above attributes.
(5) Section 7(pa) to (r)—
renumber as section 7(q) to (w).
7 Amendment of s 8 (Meaning of discrimination on the
basis of an attribute)
Section 8—
insert—
(2) Also, discrimination on the basis of an attribute
of a person who has 2 or more attributes includes
discrimination in relation to—
(a) any of the attributes; or
(b) 2 or more of the attributes; or
(c) the combined effect of 2 or more of the
attributes.
8 Replacement of ss 10 and 11
Sections 10 and 11—
omit, insert—
10 Meaning of direct discrimination
(1) Direct discrimination on the basis of an attribute
happens if a person treats, or proposes to treat,
another person unfavourably because the other
person has an attribute.
(2) For subsection (1), it does not matter—
(a) whether the person’s attribute is only 1 of
the reasons for the unfavourable treatment;
or
(b) whether the person who discriminates
considers the treatment is unfavourable.
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Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 8]
Strengthening Protections for Queensland Workers Amendment Bill 2026
Part 2 Amendment of Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
11 Meaning of indirect discrimination
(1) Indirect discrimination on the basis of an
attribute happens if a person imposes, or proposes
to impose, a condition, requirement or practice
that—
(a) has, or is likely to have, the effect of
disadvantaging another person because the
other person has an attribute; and
(b) is not reasonable.
(2) Creating an environment in which a person with
an attribute is disadvantaged is taken to be
imposing a condition, requirement or practice
under subsection (1)(a).
(3) For subsection (1), the person imposing or
proposing to impose the condition, requirement or
practice has the onus of proving, on the balance of
probabilities, the condition, requirement or
practice is reasonable.
(4) In deciding whether a condition, requirement or
practice is reasonable, the following matters may
be considered—
(a) the nature and extent of the disadvantage
resulting from the imposition, or proposed
imposition, of the condition, requirement or
practice;
(b) whether the disadvantage is proportionate to
the result sought by the person who
imposes, or proposes to impose, the
condition, requirement or practice;
(c) whether any adjustment could be made to
the condition, requirement or practice to
reduce the disadvantage caused;
(d) whether there is an alternative condition,
requirement or practice that would achieve
the result sought by the person imposing, or
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