Commissioner discusses age discrimination for COTA Seniors' Week roundtable

Commissioner Dr John Byrne was invited to the Council Of The Aging (COTA) Positive Ageing Alliance roundtable discussion at Government House on 3 November to discuss issues around mature age employment, including age discrimination.

Dr Byrne said the main problem for mature age employees was the onus of proof placed on discrimination complainants when alleging age discrimination during the recruitment process.

Often these complainants are told they did not get the job because there was someone better suited to the job. The recruitment panel will use the nebulous excuse of merit to disqualify someone who they might think is too old for the job, he said.