Commissioner for Equal Opportunity Jodeen Carney today marked the 40th anniversary of the state’s Equal Opportunity Act, noting the major advances in tackling discrimination over the past four decades.

“South Australia has often been at the forefront of equal rights,” Ms Carney said.

“Women have had the right to vote since 1894, and, in 1966, we were the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce anti-discrimination laws.

“In December 1984 the Equal Opportunity Act – combining laws against discrimination on the base of race, sex, sexuality, physical impairment and marital status – was passed in the South Australian Parliament.”

Since that time, Ms Carney said, a number of important changes have been made – aimed at tackling discrimination on the basis of age, intellectual disability, mental illness and caring responsibilities.

“The Act has been regularly amended over the past 40 years, including recently to provide protections for people who have experienced domestic or family violence, with further changes to outlaw the abhorrent practice commonly referred to as conversion therapy set to come into effect in the New Year.”

She said the 40th anniversary of the Act should serve as an important reminder of the gains made in the past, as well as a time to reflect on the future.

“It’s been 30 years since the Act was last reviewed,” Ms Carney said.

“While we’ve seen plenty of progress and changes to the law in that time, the Act is in need a comprehensive review to ensure the laws are modern, easy to use and a dynamic framework to prevent discrimination in South Australia.”