Equal Opportunity Act 2010

to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation and vilification, to the greatest possible extent;

to further promote and protect the right to equality set out in the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities;

to encourage the identification and elimination of systemic causes of discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation and vilification;

to promote and facilitate the progressive realisation of equality, as far as reasonably practicable, by recognising that—

discrimination can cause social and economic disadvantage and that access to opportunities is not equitably distributed throughout society;

equal application of a rule to different groups can have unequal results or outcomes;

the achievement of substantive equality may require the making of reasonable adjustments and reasonable accommodation and the taking of special measures;

in relation to anti-vilification, to promote the full and equal participation of every person in a society that values freedom of expression and is an open and diverse democracy;

to enable the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to encourage best practice and facilitate compliance with this Act by undertaking research, educative and enforcement functions;

to enable the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to resolve disputes about discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation and vilification in a timely and effective manner, and to also provide direct access to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for resolution of such disputes.