Disability Discrimination Act 1992 review

As part of the government response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission)(Opens in a new tab/window), the government committed to the review and modernisation of the Disability Discrimination Act. This review considers options to implement the 15 recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission related to the Disability Discrimination Act, as well as further changes to improve the experiences of people with disability.

The Act makes discrimination against people with disability unlawful in workplaces, in schools and universities and in public places. Disability discrimination is when someone treats you differently because you have a disability. The law is over 30 years old, and the last big changes were made over 15 years ago. Many people with disability still face discrimination.

This issues paper outlines the changes being considered across seven topics.

1. Updating understandings of disability and disability discrimination
2. Positive duty to eliminate discrimination (stronger protections to prevent discrimination before it happens)
3. Encouraging inclusion of people with disability in employment, education and other areas of public life
4. Improving access to justice
5. Exemptions
6. Modernising the Disability Discrimination Act
7. Further options for reform.

Easy Read and Auslan versions of the summary issues paper accompany the paper.

The consultation closes 24 October 2025.