Over the years, particularly early in the epidemic, people with HIV have faced some significant hurdles. One of these has been in relation to discrimination, and other legal areas where their status has been an issue.
There is Federal and State legislation dealing with equal opportunity and discrimination generally.
In Victoria, the Equal Opportunity Act (1995) makes it unlawful to discriminate directly or indirectly against someone because of their:
In particular, this means it is unlawful to discriminate against a person who is living with HIV, assumed to be living with HIV, or is an associate of a person living with or assumed to be living with HIV. (This also applies to Hepatitis C)
It is unlawful to discriminate against a person with HIV in the areas of:
including buying, renting, providing temporary or permanent accommodation such as business premises, a house, flat, hotel or motel room, boarding house or hostel, caravan, mobile home or campsite.
covering social recreational sporting or community service clubs that are located on Crown Land, or receive any financial assistance from the State Government or a municipal council.
Goods & Services & Disposal of Land
which includes refusing to supply a person with goods and services, or on less favourable terms. It does not matter if the goods and services are provided for money or not.
If you feel you have been discriminated against, you can:
Contact an HIV Support Service or HALC, see below.
Contact the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Level 3 380 Lonsdale St Melbourne
Tel: (03) 9281 7111
Fax: (03) 92817171
Web: http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au