Profession, Trade, Occupation or Calling

In the ACT it is against the law for someone to discriminate against you because of a characteristic that you have, or that someone thinks you have, in an area of public life such as employment, education, accommodation, provision of goods and services, and clubs.

It is against the law for someone to discriminate against you because of your profession, trade, occupation or calling.

Example of profession, trade, occupation or calling discrimination

Martin wanted to apply for a new credit card. The credit card application asked Martin’s occupation. Martin wrote down that he is a sex worker. The bank rejected Martin’s application despite no evidence of a bad credit rating or unstable or low income.

Are there any exceptions?

It is not unlawful to discriminate against a person on the ground of the profession, trade, occupation or calling of the person in relation to any transaction where profession, trade, occupation or calling is relevant to that transaction and the discrimination is reasonable in those circumstances.