Assistance Dog Handlers

In reply to the Hon. J.S. LEE ().16 October 2025).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Deputy Premier, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State): The Minister for Climate, Environment and Water has advised:

In South Australia, assistance dogs may either be accredited under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 (SA) ('the act') or recognised as an assistance animal under the commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth).

Both the state and commonwealth legislation afford public access rights for assistance dogs and their handlers. Due to the dual state and commonwealth schemes for assistance dogs in South Australia, multiple avenues exist for the public to make complaints regarding the refusal of service to assistance dog handlers by rideshare or taxi drivers.

Complaints in relation to unlawful discrimination, including unlawful refusal of access or service for an assistance dog, can be made to the Australian Human Rights Commission or Equal Opportunity South Australia. These organisations each have processes to assist individuals who lodge discrimination complaints under their respective legislation.

In addition, complaints about offences under the act can be directed to the local council in which the incident occurred. I am advised that as these complaints are managed at the local government level, consolidated data on the number of breaches recorded or actions taken under section 81 of the act at the state level is not held by the Department for Environment and Water. Penalties are in place for unlawful discrimination against a person accompanied by an assistance animal. Under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA), 'it is unlawful to impose a condition or requirement that would result in a person with a disability being separated from his or her assistance animal' and the maximum penalty is $2,500.

It is essential that all companies, including rideshare operators, understand and comply with their legal obligations, which includes providing appropriate training to drivers to prevent unlawful refusals of service.