SMH: Paula says she had Uber rides cancelled 32 times because she has guide dog. The company is blaming the drivers

Uber is trying to wash its hands of a discrimination case led by a blind customer who claims trips with her guide dog are routinely cancelled, with the ride-share giant arguing it can’t answer for its drivers’ behaviour because they are contractors, not employees.

Paula Hobley launched proceedings in the Federal Court against Uber this year, alleging that between March 2021 and November 2022, she had 32 trips cancelled after drivers matched to her booking saw a note that she was travelling with her assistance dog, Vonda, and refused to pick her up.

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Hobley said she was not asking for special treatment but had launched the legal action – in which the Justice and Equity Centre are representing her – so that drivers “do their job and Uber enforce that”.

The legal standing of Uber’s claim is unclear. Alastair McEwin, who formerly served as Australia’s disability discrimination commissioner and is a professor of practice in disability at the University of NSW, said a disabled person could not be refused service because of a disability support they require, such as an assistance animal. Contractors were covered by the act, he said.