Banned from club for life

May 2024

Sally* is an Aboriginal woman who attended a Sorry Business function in a regional club. She went to the bar several times to purchase drinks for her family and friends but drank only one shandy herself.

Sally sat in the games room playing a slot machine. There were many uncollected glasses from other gamers next to her. The bar person collecting glasses around the room assumed that all the empty glasses were hers and said that she better not expect to be served any more drinks. Sally told the bar person that the glasses were not hers and were there when she arrived. He refused to accept this and told her that he believed she was over the limit. He told Sally that she would not be served any more drinks.

Sally found the duty manager and challenged this decision. She was then asked to leave the premises, despite trying to explain that she was a designated driver and had to wait for her family who were attending a Sorry Business function. Sally left the premises and waited for her family outside.

Several months later, when visiting family in the town, Sally visited the club and was refused entry. She was told that she had been banned for life.

Sally lodged a complaint of race discrimination with ADNSW.

In conciliation, the club conceded that it had relied only on the information provided by the bar person. The club apologised to Sally and withdrew the ban. This resolved her complaint.

*Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the individual