Human Rights Legislation Amendment 2021

# Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 ## What it does This bill amends six existing anti-discrimination laws to add language about human rights principles. It also creates a new legal protection for charities that promote traditional (heterosexual) marriage, and appears to give religious educational institutions the right to refuse services based on religious grounds (though the exact provision is cut off in the text). ## Why it matters The changes could make it harder to challenge charities or religious organisations on discrimination grounds, while simultaneously adding human rights language to discrimination laws—creating potential tension in how these laws are applied. Religious schools and charities may gain broader legal protection to operate according to their beliefs. ## Key details - **Commencement**: The bill takes effect immediately upon receiving Royal Assent (the Governor-General's approval) - **Charities protection**: Any charity promoting traditional marriage gets automatic legal presumption that it's acting for "public benefit" and won't be found to breach public policy—closing off one avenue for legal challenge - **Affected laws**: Changes apply to age, disability, racial and sex discrimination laws, plus the Marriage Act and Charities Act