Sex Discrimination Act

The Federal Circuit Court has rejected an employee’s claim that her employer engaged in unlawful discrimination by terminating her employment due to her “polyamorous” lifestyle.  The Court found that polyamory was not a matter of sexual orientation and so was not a protected attribute under the relevant legislation.

On 1 August 2013, amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth.) (SD Act) that delivered protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status came into force. The amendments serve to modernise the SD Act, delivering protections that better reflect the realities of contemporary society.

Under the