Discrimination

Media and commentary related to our work to strengthen and modernise anti-discrimination laws, to protect human rights and ensure fair access to services, education, work and culture.

  • Smith’s same-sex marriage bill isn’t perfect, but it’s a workable compromise

    By PIAC CEO Jonathon Hunyor ‘The same-sex marriage postal survey is almost at an end. The survey process has closed and we await the result on 15 November. But despite having put the LGBTI community through a protracted, unnecessary, unfair and frankly degrading process, there is a real risk that even a yes result may…

  • Insurers under mounting pressure to reform mental health practices 

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    beyondblue, Mental Health Australia (MHA) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) welcome the Federal Government’s royal commission into the financial services sector.  The practices of insurance companies will be scrutinised as part of the royal commission into misconduct in the financial services sector, a move applauded by the organisations.  beyondblue, MHA and PIAC have long campaigned against insurance industry…

  • Banks Royal Commission should consider mental health insurance discrimination

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    The Public Interest Advocacy Centre has supported calls by Llew O’Brien, Member for Wide Bay, for mental health discrimination by insurance providers to be examined as part of any Royal Commission into the financial services industry. For years, PIAC has been working with beyondblue, Mental Health Australia and Victoria Legal Aid to get insurance companies to improve their policies for the…

  • Rainbows bright at firms

    ‘A “fairly sedate afternoon tea” might have been the order of the day for Australia’s chief statistician David Kalisch after revealing the historic Yes vote, but for lawyers it was bubbles.’ ‘Public Interest Advocacy Centre CEO Jonathon Hunyor says his office, along with the Human Rights Law Centre and Justice Connect, switched to rainbow-coloured lanyards…

  • Opinion: New anti-LGBTI discrimination must be rejected

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    Many people woke up this morning with a new-found sense of pride in their country, and in their fellow Australians, for having emphatically stood up for equality and fairness in the same-sex marriage postal survey. Some within the LGBTI community and their supporters will also have woken up with slightly sore heads, after celebrating the…

  • Yes!!! Now let’s get it done

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    PIAC has welcomed the results of the marriage equality survey and called on the government to honour their commitment to pass legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry without delay. ‘This is a landmark victory for the many, many Australians who have campaigned for marriage equality,’ said PIAC CEO Jonathon Hunyor. ‘Australia has spoken, and…

  • Fighting mental health insurance discrimination: Sarah’s story

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    Sarah was on a long-anticipated holiday in Thailand in August 2016 when the unthinkable happened. While having dinner with her friends, she experienced a sudden and severe panic attack. The episode made her feel paranoid and confused and was so severe that she was eventually admitted to hospital where she stayed for four days to…

  • Marriage Equality: Time to put a ring on it

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    The same-sex marriage postal survey is almost at an end. The survey process has closed and we await the result on 15 November. But despite having put the LGBTI community through a protracted, unnecessary, unfair and frankly degrading process, there is a real risk that even a yes result may not guarantee marriage equality. Read…

  • Ending mental health insurance discrimination: VEOHRC inquiry welcome

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    The Public Interest Advocacy Centre welcomes the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into unlawful discrimination against people with mental health conditions by the Victorian travel insurance industry, announced today. Many Australians are unaware that most travel insurance policies exclude cover for mental health conditions, including mental health conditions that develop after they…

  • Seminar: Equal access in the digital age, lessons from the US disability rights movement

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    The AHRCentre, PIAC and the Digital Gap Initiative are proud to present a seminar with US disability rights lawyer Lainey Feingold. Date: 14 November 2017 Time: 5:30-7pm Venue: Ashurst Australia, Level 11, 5 Martin Place, Sydney RSVP: Here, for catering purposes Disability rights advocates in the US are pushing to make the digital world accessible to…

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