Tasmanian accessibility advocate Rosie Putland says she was refused a taxi at Parliament House and later an Uber in Canberra because she uses a wheelchair — even though it packs to suitcase size.
ABC News reports a rank driver said he simply did not want to take her; an Uber driver messaged her to cancel after she disclosed the chair. Disability Discrimination Act rules ban refusing public transport including taxis and rideshares where safe. People with Disability Australia’s Jarrod Sandell-Hay said such refusals are common. Australian Taxi Industry Association CEO Blair Davies called the dual refusals “completely unacceptable” given the chair’s demonstrated fit.