Safety
Your rights from day one in Australia
Workplace rights, consumer rights, health and emergency rights, tenancy rights, discrimination protections and privacy — and which of these apply to most temporary visa holders.
Published 17 May 2026 · Last reviewed 17 May 2026
These apply to most temporary visa holders too. Some don't extend to all visa categories — visitor visas and bridging C with no work rights are more restricted.
Workplace rights
- Minimum wage and award rates apply to everyone regardless of visa.
- Superannuation must be paid by your employer for almost all jobs.
- Safe Work — your workplace must be safe (Work Health and Safety laws).
- Discrimination on grounds of race, sex, age, disability, sexuality, religion or pregnancy is illegal under federal and state law.
- See work rights and the legal floor for the detail on Fair Work Ombudsman.
Consumer rights
- Australian Consumer Law guarantees products work as described, are of acceptable quality, fit for purpose, and match samples and demonstrations.
- "No refunds" signs are not legally binding for major faults.
- See ACCC: https://www.accc.gov.au/
Health and emergency rights
- Emergency hospital treatment cannot be refused based on inability to pay or lack of Medicare. Public hospitals treat you first and sort out billing later.
- Calling 000 is free from any phone, anywhere in Australia, including mobile phones with no credit.
Tenancy rights
- Your landlord cannot enter without proper notice (except emergencies).
- Discrimination against renters based on race, family status, sexuality, etc., is illegal.
- See renting overview by state.
Discrimination, harassment and equal opportunity
- The Australian Human Rights Commission handles federal discrimination complaints: https://humanrights.gov.au/
- Each state has its own equal opportunity / human rights body — Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Anti-Discrimination NSW, QHRC, etc.
- You can complain anonymously initially in most jurisdictions.
Privacy
- The Privacy Act covers how government agencies and businesses (with annual turnover above $3m and certain categories below) handle your personal information.
- You have a right to access information held about you, and to correct it.
- See the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: https://www.oaic.gov.au/