AustraliaI was told I couldn't rent a property because of my race. What legal protections exist?
It is illegal in Australia to refuse to rent a property to someone because of their race. The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and state/territory anti-discrimination laws protect you.
What the Law Says
Federal and state/territory laws in Australia prohibit racial discrimination in housing, including rental applications.
The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin in areas including the provision of accommodation.
This means landlords, real estate agents, and property managers cannot refuse to rent to you, set different terms, or treat you unfairly because of your race — even if they claim it’s for other reasons.
All Australian states and territories also have their own anti-discrimination laws that reinforce these protections and often cover additional grounds or provide alternative complaint pathways.
Statutory TextIt is unlawful for a person to discriminate against another person on the ground of the other person's race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin in the provision of accommodation.
— Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), s. 18 — Accommodation
Statutory TextA person must not, on the ground of race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, refuse to rent or lease premises to a person.
— Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), s. 18(1)(a)
What to Do
Keep records: Save any messages, emails, or notes from conversations where race was mentioned or implied.
Contact the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) within 12 months — complaints can be made online or by phone.
You may also lodge a complaint with your state or territory anti-discrimination agency (e.g., NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission).
Seek free legal advice from community legal centres or the AHRC’s free conciliation service.
Sources
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European UnionNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.