Teen files discrimination claim against marriage postal survey

A 17-year  old Victorian school boy has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission arguing that he is being discriminated against because while on the electoral roll, he will not get to participate in the government’s upcoming marriage survey.

The Guardian has reported that Cameron Warasta has lodged the complain that could quickly escalate to being a federal court case.

The Australian Electoral Commission has declared that 16 and 17 years old Australian are not on the electoral roll officially until they turn 18.

However as the electoral roll is being used as the basis for a survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics there had been some suggestion that those under 18 might legally need to be included.

Acting special minister of state, Mathias Cormann issued a direction on August 16 so that 16 and 17 years olds on the roll would not be sent forms the marriage postal survey.

The claim lodged today argues that the decision constitutes age discrimination. While the Australian Electoral Act is exempt from age discrimination claims, the legislation controlling the Australian Bureau of Statistics is not.

Warasta is hoping the Human Rights Commission will terminate the complaint as there is no hope of it being resolved through conciliation. If that happens it will be able to progress to the High Court.

The Inner City Legal Centre has offered to represent him in a federal court case should it proceed.

Read the full story at The Guardian.