Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, asked the Australian Human Rights Commission for a temporary exemption from the Age Discrimination Act. The cruise operator argued that teenagers taking part in the end-of-school celebrations put the health, safety and security of its passengers and crews at risk and it was particularly concerned about the risk of under-age drinking. The company initially applied for a blanket ban on under-21s travelling between November 1 and January 30 each year unless they were accompanied by a parent or guardian. But the commission rejected this as too discriminatory.