Summary of scope of Australian racial discrimination laws

Interpretation of race by act

The various Australian acts relating to racial discrimination use different definitions of “race”. Some of the State and Territory legislative definitions provide wider coverage than the Federal Racial Discrimination Act (RDA). The table below summarises the scope and the interpretation of “race” in each of the acts using terminology contained in those acts. No inferences are made about the scope and interpretation of “race” as defined in each act.

ActColourDecentNationalityCountry of originEthnic originNational originSocial originEthno-religious / religious beliefsAncestryEthnicityImmigration statusRacial hatred or vilification
RDASee RHA
RHA
HREOCA
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
NT
ACT
TAS