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Media Releases
A Message from the Commissioner
There are close to 200 000 people in the Northern Territory. Aboriginal people comprise over one-quarter of the population, and there are 828 separately identified Aboriginal communities (including outstations). As at the 1996 census, 16.4% of the population was born overseas, 57% of whom come from a non-English speaking background (NESB). There are over seventy different ethnic groups represented in the Territory.
It should come as no surprise that human rights have a vital role to play in a community as cosmopolitan and diverse as the Territory. The Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 plays a crucial role in this human rights framework. The Act promotes equality of opportunity for all people in the Territory, and provides remedies for people who have suffered unlawful discrimination on the grounds outlined in the Act.
The Act also establishes the Anti-Discrimination Commission. The Commission is an independent body operating within the Department of Justice. It's role is to inform the community of the important role of human rights in our society, advise community members about their rights and responsibilities under the act and to investigate complaints for the purpose of deciding if unlawful discrimination may have occurred. If so, the complaint proceeds to conciliation.
The conciliation of complaints lies at the core of the Commission's complaint handling process. Conciliation is where the parties to a complaint, with the assistance of impartial conciliators, discuss ways to resolve the complaint through an agreement that meets their needs. Common needs of complainants may be such things as: an apology, an understanding that others will not experience the same behaviour, a cessation of the behaviour and/or compensation. Conciliation agreements might also include a requirement for discrimination awareness training. If the complaint cannot be conciliated then it is referred to a hearing before the Commissioner who decides the outcome.
It is almost ten years since the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 came into operation in the Territory. To mark this significant anniversary the Anti-Discrimination Commission is conducting a review of the Act. The purpose of the review is to ensure that the Act will meet the needs of the Territory community. The review will consider and make recommendations to the Government on amendments to the Act. It will consider the need for amendments to both the practical aspects of the Act and whether the grounds of discrimination or types of prohibited conduct need to be amended.
As part of the review process the Commission will shortly release a discussion paper which will give the community an opportunity to make submissions and participate in any public consultations. More information on the Review will be put on this website as it becomes available.
This website and the links from it contain much information about human rights and anti-discrimination. If you want more information or need advice please feel free to contact the Commission in person, on the phone or by e mail.
Tony Fitzgerald
Anti-Discrimination Commissioner
