Anti-Discrimination
WA has some of the worst anti-vilification laws in the country, and currently LGBTIQA+ people have no state or federal protections against hate speech. The Equal Opportunity Act (EOA) has not been updated since 1984.
Reforms should introduce (civil) vilification laws, provide anti-discrimination protections in religious schools, and protect trans and gender diverse individuals regardless of formal gender recognition.
EOA reforms will have benefits beyond the LGBTIQA+ community, such as removing the outdated “disadvantage test” for sexual harassment and adding protections for family and domestic violence victims.
The Labor government committed to reforming the EOA and broadly accepted the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission. Legislation is expected in 2025.