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Australia’s Albanese government has launched a sweeping review of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, pledging to modernise a law untouched for more than 15 years - yet critics say the reforms are overdue, vague, and dangerously soft.

The Human Rights Commission has hailed what it calls an essential review of current discrimination laws, stating current interpretations make cases “harder to prove” and emphasising the proposal to institute a “positive duty” to prevent discrimination before it occurs. But skeptics wonder: is the government really delivering change, or just optics?

Controversial flashpoints mainly surround issues that won’t be revisited, including long‑standing exemptions such as migration laws allowing exclusion of visa seekers with disability. Removal of such carve‑outs is supported by advocates who argue Australia is lagging behind international standards.

With consultation closing in late October, however, the chance of any widening of terms of reference is negligible, while actual reform timelines remain frustratingly opaque.

Critics also warn the review may clash with recent “positive duty” delays in workplace anti‑discrimination law, such as halted reforms on gender harassment in Queensland.

This has raised alarm amongst advocates who portray this review as little more than window-dressing, doubting the political will exists to enforce robust change.

Sources within the government dispute this, insisting that it is the advocates who are out of step with community values.