Equal Opportunity amendments protect rights in systemic investigations

(Letter submitted to The Age newpaper, which The Age did not publish.)

Dominique Allen (Opinion, 22 June) is factually incorrect in several of her claims about the amendments to equal opportunity legislation recently passed by Parliament

 The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission will continue to have the power to investigate systemic discrimination that cannot reasonably be expected to be resolved through individual complaints.

 However, the amendments better protect the rights of citizens by requiring the VEOHRC to obtain authorisation from VCAT before exercising coercive powers to obtain documents or question witnesses.

 The government is confident that the amended legislation gives the VEOHRC a more just and balanced set of powers to perform its valuable role of protecting the community against discrimination.

 Robert Clark
Attorney- General