A Melbourne man has accused Uber drivers of repeatedly refusing to pick him up—claiming it is because of his weight.
Each time he books a trip, he braces for the possibility that the driver will take one look at him and keep going.
For Martin, that gut-wrenching moment has become an all-too-familiar part of trying to get around the city.
Martin, who lives on a disability pension due to his size, said his experiences have left him feeling ‘less than a human being’.
‘It’s because of my size. I’m morbidly obese, I don’t shy away from that,’ he told #A Current Affair.
‘The drivers take one look at me and they go right past me.’
He said he had grown accustomed to watching a driver approach, only to have them turn away at the last moment.
When they reached the corner, they would cancel the trip—leaving him standing on the kerb with a hollow feeling in his stomach.
"It feels like I'm less than a human being. I want to be able to be like everyone else."
Relying on rideshare services
Martin relied on rideshare services to visit his elderly parents, whom he cared for.
He said personal circumstances had prevented him from losing the amount of weight he wanted, despite his best efforts.
Under Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act 2010, it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on their physical features.
The law also places a ‘positive duty’ on companies to take steps to eliminate discrimination in the workplace.
Businesses can be held responsible if their workers engage in discriminatory behaviour.
Martin said the problem was not confined to rideshare trips—he often felt judged while eating in public, walking through shopping centres, attending medical appointments, or even trying to get a haircut.
Taking action against discrimination
Over several years, Martin kept a record of every Uber driver who cancelled on him after seeing him in person.
When he complained to Uber, he claimed he was told that drivers would receive better training.
‘They occasionally send me a $10 voucher because that’s how much a human’s dignity is worth,’ he said.
Martin wanted the company to take action against drivers who discriminated against passengers based on weight.
He said he simply wished to be treated with dignity.
Did you know?
Australia’s National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032 Specifically identifies tackling weight stigma and discrimination as a key principle for creating a healthier Australia.
Uber’s response
Uber responded in a statement saying it had a ‘zero tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination’.
‘Our community guidelines clearly prohibit discrimination of any kind,’ an Uber spokesperson said.
‘We work to inform driver partners about those standards, hold them accountable for their actions, and make it clear that this behaviour can result in them losing access to the Uber app.’
Uber has been contacted for further comment.
Watch the full report below.
Source: YouTube/A Current Affair
What This Means For You
If you or someone you know faces discrimination when using rideshare services, you have options.
Document each incident, report to both the company and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, and know that the law is on your side. Your experiences matter and your dignity is non-negotiable.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT 2010 — Consolidated legislation outlining the framework for preventing discrimination and promoting equal opportunity in Victoria.
https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/eoa2010250/
Disability discrimination | Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission — Explains that it is illegal to treat someone unfairly or bully them because of a disability.
https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/disability/
Disability discrimination | Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission — Describes various types of disabilities, including physical, mental health, and learning difficulties, and the protections against discrimination.
https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/disability/
Uber Rules for Drivers in Australia: Legal Compliance Essentials | Sprintlaw — States that rideshare drivers must not refuse passengers based on race, gender, disability, or other protected attributes.
https://sprintlaw.com.au/articles/uber-rules-for-drivers-in-australia-legal-compliance-essentials/
After 32 refusals, Guide Dog user Paula is taking on Uber for discrimination - Justice and Equity Centre — Reports that Paula Hobley is pursuing a disability discrimination claim after Uber drivers cancelled on her more than 30 times.
https://jec.org.au/disability-right...r-paula-is-taking-on-uber-for-discrimination/
After 32 refusals, Guide Dog user Paula is taking on Uber for discrimination - Justice and Equity Centre — Details that between March 2021 and November 2022, Uber drivers refused to pick up Paula on 32 occasions after she disclosed her guide dog.
https://jec.org.au/disability-right...r-paula-is-taking-on-uber-for-discrimination/
After 32 refusals, Guide Dog user Paula is taking on Uber for discrimination - Justice and Equity Centre — Explains that the complaint could not be resolved through conciliation, leading Paula to file a case in the Federal Court.
https://jec.org.au/disability-right...r-paula-is-taking-on-uber-for-discrimination/
After 32 refusals, Guide Dog user Paula is taking on Uber for discrimination - Justice and Equity Centre — Emphasises that Uber must ensure its service does not discriminate against people with disabilities, including guide dog users.
https://jec.org.au/disability-right...r-paula-is-taking-on-uber-for-discrimination/
Potential Policies and Laws to Prohibit Weight Discrimination: Public Views from 4 Countries - PubMed — Discusses public support in several countries, including Australia, for laws prohibiting weight discrimination.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26626983/
Potential Policies and Laws to Prohibit Weight Discrimination: Public Views from 4 Countries - PubMed — Provides citation and indexing information for the article.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26626983/
Potential Policies and Laws to Prohibit Weight Discrimination: Public Views from 4 Countries - PubMed — Lists the authors of the study.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26626983/
Can an Uber deny you a ride based on your height or weight? - Quora — Discusses situations where rideshare drivers may refuse passengers based on physical attributes like height or weight.
https://www.quora.com/Can-an-Uber-deny-you-a-ride-based-on-your-height-or-weight
National Obesity Strategy 2022–2032 | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — Outlines the Australian Government’s national strategy to address obesity from 2022 to 2032.
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-obesity-strategy-2022-2032?language=en
National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032 — Provides the full PDF of the Australian Government’s National Obesity Strategy 2022–2032.
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/def.../03/national-obesity-strategy-2022-2032_0.pdf
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT 2010 — Discusses the effect of practice guidelines under the Act.
https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/eoa2010250/
Disability discrimination | Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission — Notes exceptions under the Equal Opportunity Act where discrimination may be lawful in specific circumstances.
https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/disability/
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