Anti-Discrimination Act
Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) defines “race” to include “ethnic, ethno-religious or national origin”.[1] The reference to “ethno-religious” was added by the Anti-Discrimination (Amendment) Act 1994 (NSW).[2] John Hannaford, the NSW Attorney-General at the time, explained that “The effect of the latter amendment is to clarify that ethno-religious groups, such as Jews, Muslims and Sikhs, have access to the racial vilification and discrimination provisions of the Act. …extensions of the Anti-Discrimination Act to ethno-religious groups will not extend to discrimination on the ground of religion.” The definition of “race” in Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas) likewise includes “ethnic, ethno-religious or national origin”.[5] However, unlike the NSW Act, it also prohibits discrimination on the grounds of “religious belief or affiliation” or “religious activity” Anti-Discrimination Act 1998
