General News
11 August, 2026
Dog entry refusal prompts warning
A BLIND man has spoken out after an Atherton physiotherapist refused to allow his seeing eye dog to stay in the room while he was being treated.
Neil Campbell said he had been using Physio Choice for decades but he believed the practice had recently been sold and when he turned up for his latest appointment, the new physiotherapist told him he would have to leave his dog, Yvie, outside the building.
“I was taken aback – she said my dog had to be left outside,” Mr Campbell said.
“I tried to explain that it was my seeing eye dog and she can go anywhere with me, but she was adamant the dog had to be left outside.
“I could tell we were at an impasse so I left.”
Mr Campbell, who is fully blind, said he could not operate without his labrador and had never been refused entry to any facility or retail business before.
“In fact, it is illegal to refuse entry to an accredited seeing eye dog,” he said.
According to the Vision Australia website, it is illegal to deny service or discriminate against someone for using a seeing eye dog under Australia’s Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
“If you use a seeing eye dog, you have the right for that dog to be with you in all public spaces and while taking public transport including taxi and rideshare vehicles,” it states.
“This right is protected under law and means that you can enjoy a meal in a restaurant, shop in all retail outlets and use any mode of transport with your dog by your side.”
In Queensland, under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009, it is unlawful to refuse entry or access to:
public places, including cafes and restaurants, shopping centres and cinemas
public passenger vehicles, including planes, trains, buses, ferries, taxis and ride-sharing services, and
Advertisementplaces of accommodation, including hotels, motels and short-term holiday rentals.
“Refusing access or service to a person with disability accompanied by a certified dog, trainer or puppy carer with a trainee support dog is against the law penalties apply,” the government website states.
“This includes refusing entry or access to a public place, public passenger vehicle or place of accommodation; separating a person from their certified dog or from other patrons; or charging extra fees or higher rates for accommodation due to the presence of a certified dog.”
The Express contacted Physio Choice and spoke to physiotherapist Wasana Semasinghe who confirmed she had asked Mr Campbell to leave his dog outside.
“I was not comfortable having the dog in the treatment room,” she said.
“I have a phobia about dogs.”
She said a male physiotherapist at the practice also had a phobia about dogs. Both of them had only moved to Australia from Sri Lanka about two months ago.
When told that refusing entry to the assistance dog was illegal, Ms Semasinghe said she was unaware of seeing eye dogs as her country did not have a similar scheme.
“I did not know – and I am willing to apologise to the man,” she said.
She also offered to treat Mr Campbell and allow his dog to accompany him.
But Mr Campbell said he would now be having treatment at the Atherton Hospital and had decided to speak out about the incident to raise awareness about the rights of those with accredited assistance dogs.
