Complaints of unlawful discrimination under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 should be lodged with the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity.

The Commissioner may refer matters to the SAT where the Commissioner:

• has been unable to resolve the complaint by conciliation; and
• has been asked to do so because a complaint has been declined.

The SAT and the Commissioner are independent of each other.

• The SAT enquires into every matter referred to it.
• The Commissioner will submit a report on the matter to the SAT.
• Matters may be resolved by mediation or by hearing.
• Hearings are generally open to the public but the SAT may decide to hold hearings in private or suppress some parts of the hearing.
• The SAT follows principles of fairness and equity and makes decisions on the basis of the merits of the case as outlined in About SAT.

The SAT may dismiss the complaint or find the complaint substantiated, and:

• award damages not exceeding $40,000;
• make an order prohibiting the respondent from repeating the conduct rendered unlawful by the Act;
• order the respondent perform any reasonable act or course of conduct to redress any loss or damage suffered by the complainant; or
• make a declaration that an agreement made in contravention of the Act is void.

The SAT can grant exemptions from the operation of specified parts of the Equal Opportunity Act.

There are no fees for equal opportunity matters.