Willing to Work: national inquiry into employment discrimination

The Attorney-General, Senator the Hon. George Brandis QC, has requested that the Australian Human Rights Commission undertake a National Inquiry into Employment Discrimination against Older Australians and Australians with Disability. The Inquiry will be conducted by the Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, the Hon. Susan Ryan AO.

Terms of Reference
The inquiry will consider

• the obstacles faced by older persons and persons with disabilities in actively participating in the workforce; 

• discrimination against older persons and persons with disabilities as a systemic problem and a considerable barrier to their enjoyment of human rights; 

• the economic and social costs, and the costs to productivity, that result from discrimination against older persons and persons with disabilities in employment; and 

• the Australian Government’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights of older Australians and Australians with disability.

The Attorney-General requires the AHRC to report on 

• practices, attitudes and Commonwealth laws that deny or diminish equal participation in employment of older Australians and Australians with disability; and 

• the Commission’s recommendations as to Commonwealth laws that should be made or amended, or action that should be taken, to address employment discrimination against older Australians and Australians with disability. 

An Issues Paper will be published shortly. The Inquiry will conclude and report by July 2016.

• Visit the Willing to Work Inquiry page on the AHRC website to read more and register your  interest.

• Senator Brandis's speech at the launch of the Willing to Work Inquiry on 15th April 2015