To:

The Honourable Kyam Maher MLC
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Attorney-General
Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector

This annual report will be presented to Parliament to meet the statutory reporting requirements of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 and the requirements of Premier and Cabinet Circular PC013 Annual Reporting.

This report is verified to be accurate for the purposes of annual reporting to the Parliament of South Australia.

JODEEN CARNEY
Commissioner

11 August 2022

From the Commissioner

About the office

Our Purpose

The Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity (OCEO) is responsible for the administration of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (the Act).

Our Vision

A State whose citizens embrace and support inclusion, diversity, fairness, and equal opportunity

Our Values

Excellence, Accountability, Respect

Our functions, objectives and deliverables

Pursuant to section 11 of the Act:

(1) The Commissioner must foster and encourage amongst members of the public informed and unprejudiced attitudes with a view to eliminating discrimination on the grounds to which this Act applies.

(2) The Commissioner may institute, promote or assist in research, the collection of data and the dissemination of information relating to discrimination on the grounds to which this Act applies.

(3) The Commissioner may make recommendations to the Minister as to reforms, whether of a legislative nature or otherwise, that the Commissioner believes will further the objects of this Act.

As at 30 June 2022

Image of the office's organisation structure, including a Commissioner, MAS3 Business and Corporate Advisor reporting to it, and beneath an ASO5 Conciliation Officer, ASO4 Assessments Officer, ASO4 Business Coordinator and ASO2 Admin Officer. To the side of the Business and Corporate Advisor is an ASO7 Project and Sector Engagement Officer, with the dates from 22 March 2022 to 30 September 2022 under it.

During 2021-22 the following changes were made to the office’s structure, activities and objectives as a result of internal reviews or machinery of government changes.

  • A Project and Sector Engagement Officer was recruited to undertake a short-term project to foster and encourage informed and unprejudiced attitudes and promote the objectives of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.
  • A new operational structure was implemented following an internal review and consultation process.
  • Responsibility for the Roma Mitchell Oration was transferred to the History Trust of South Australia.

The Hon Kyam Maher MLC, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, and Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, is the State’s principal legal advisor to the government and responsible for the administration of justice.


The Attorney-General is a member of Cabinet and responsible for:

  • specific legislation and the state’s legal system
  • developing and implementing policy
  • legal action relevant to the state government.

Nil – the Commissioner is a statutory appointment.

Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA)

The office's performance