Australians are living longer and healthier lives and remaining in the workforce longer. To ensure financial security during this longer period they need to be assured of equality of opportunity in all aspects of their work, including redundancy arrangements. The Human Rights Commissioner recommended the removal of age discrimination against older workers from redundancy entitlement provisions in employment laws, policies and practices. These complaints highlight a broader need to ensure stronger protection for older Australians against discrimination on the basis of their age. Some States and Territories have laws prohibiting discrimination on the ground of age but there is considerable variation in approach and exceptions are numerous and inconsistent.
Federal laws provide only limited protection in particular areas.
There is a clear need for national standards of protection. The Human Rights Commissioner recommended again that the Commonwealth legislate to provide a comprehensive national prohibition of age discrimination. Last updated 9 March 2001 . Your comments and feedback are welcome.