Age Discrimination Act 2004

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}

{{Infobox legislation

|short_title = Age Discrimination Act 2004

|legislature = Parliament of Australia

|long_title = An Act relating to discrimination on the ground of age

|citation = {{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|ada2004174|Age Discrimination Act 2004}}

|enacted_by = House of Representatives

|date_enacted =

|date_passed =

|enacted_by2 = Senate

|date_enacted2 =

|date_passed2 =

|royal_assent = 22 June 2004

|date_commenced = 23 June 2004

|bill = Age Discrimination Bill 2003

|bill_citation =

|bill_date =

|introduced_by = Daryl Williams[https://www.humanrights.gov.au/roadmap-ada-age-discrimination-act-2004-2007 "Roadmap to ADA: The Age Discrimination Act 2004"], Joanna Hemingway, 2007.

|1st_reading = 26 June 2003

|2nd_reading = 26 November 2003

|3rd_reading = 26 November 2003

|committee_report =

|bill2 = Age Discrimination Bill 2003

|bill_citation2 =

|bill_date2 =

|introduced_by2 =

|1st_reading2 = 1 December 2003

|2nd_reading2 = 3 December 2003

|3rd_reading2 = 29 March 2004

|committee_report2 =

|white_paper =

|amended_by = {{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|adaa2006254|Age Discrimination Amendment Act 2006}}

|repeals =

|related_legislation = {{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|adpa2004462|Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004}}

|summary =

|keywords =

|status = in force

}}

The Age Discrimination Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that prohibits age discrimination in many areas including employment, education, accommodation and the provision of goods and services. Persons of any age can be discriminated against within the meaning of the act.{{cite web|url=http://www.agediscrimination.info/international-age-discrimination/australia|title=Federal Discrimination Law|date=27 September 2018|publisher=Lewis Silkin LLP|access-date = 12 July 2019}}

Some exemptions are provided, including for religious organisations, charitable organisations and positive discrimination.

Complaints of discrimination must first be made to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), where a conciliation process can be initiated. Filing a complaint is free.[https://www.humanrights.gov.au/complaints-under-age-discrimination-act "Complaints under the Age Discrimination Act"], Australian Human Rights Commission. If the complaint is not resolved through the conciliation process, it can be taken to the Federal Court or the Federal Circuit Court.

In general, age discrimination is not a criminal offence. However, the Act creates criminal offences of discriminatory advertising, victimisation and failure to disclose statistical or actuarial data upon request by the President of the AHRC. {{cite web|url=https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/legal/FDL/2011/2_Age.pdf|title=Federal Discrimination Law|at=Section 2.1.4|date=21 October 2011|publisher=Australian Human Rights Commission|access-date = 11 December 2015}}