Resolving federal age discrimination complaints: where have all the complainants gone?

This article examines the available data on federal age discrimination complaints over the past five years and critiques the case law for this jurisdiction. It explores why very few federal age discrimination complaints proceed beyond the alternative dispute resolution phase, and why none of those that have been litigated in the federal judicial arena have been successful. This article assesses whether the proposals in the Human Rights and Anti-discrimination Bill 2012 (Cth) are likely to change this and what reforms are necessary to enhance the prospects of just, efficient, timely and cost-effective resolution of federal age discrimination complaints.