{"id":308250,"date":"2021-10-28T21:27:02","date_gmt":"2021-10-28T11:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=308250"},"modified":"2021-11-12T19:10:42","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T09:10:42","slug":"a-little-card-should-protect-emma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/10\/28\/a-little-card-should-protect-emma\/","title":{"rendered":"A Little Card Should Protect Emma"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Retired police officer Emma Clarke with the official card she carries that states her rights and the rights of Bailey Quill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 28, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

A 13-year veteran of the Queensland Police Service was left stunned and shaking when she was refused service recently in a South Burnett hotel.<\/p>\n

Emma Clarke attempted to order a meal at the establishment but was told she could not be seated in the hotel restaurant because she was accompanied by her assistance dog, Bailey Quill.<\/p>\n

She has now lodged an official complaint with the Human Rights Commission about the incident, but also wants to raise more awareness in the community about the rights of assistance dogs and their handlers.<\/p>\n

Bailey Quill, a golden retriever, sat quietly at Emma’s feet when southburnett.com.au<\/strong> caught up with the pair recently in a Kingaroy cafe, one of the places where Emma says she has never had any issue with her licensed companion.<\/p>\n

Emma served as a Senior Constable for 10 years in North Queensland, being sent to jobs from Cairns to Aurukun. She was then transferred to Logan where she was exposed to more troubling incidents.<\/p>\n

As a uniformed officer, she was often the first responder on the scene of domestic violence calls, traffic crashes or other traumatic events.<\/p>\n

She was medically retired from the QPS in 2016 after being diagnosed with a post-traumatic stress disorder.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She moved to Wondai for a quieter life.<\/p>\n

Three and a half years ago, she acquired Bailey Quill when he was just eight weeks old. His training as an assistance dog began not long after.<\/p>\n

Emma goes everywhere with him – and she credits him with saving her life.<\/p>\n

“I can become overwhelmed by people in public spaces. He recognises when I get anxious and distracts me and steers me through,” Emma said.<\/p>\n

“He’s not just a pet.”<\/p>\n

The fact Bailey Quill is “not just a pet” is recognised by the State Government.<\/p>\n

Emma carries a card, issued by the government, that bears both her and Bailey Quill’s photographs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the card clearly states, Bailey Quill has the right to be at most places – including restaurants, taxis, buses and aircraft.\u00a0People who refuse him access can face steep fines.<\/p>\n

Emma has taken Bailey Quill on Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar aircraft with no issues.<\/p>\n

“The airlines are great. Jetstar even gave me a spare seat,” she said.<\/p>\n

But this is not the reaction she received when she tried to have dinner in the hotel restaurant on October 12.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bailey Quill was wearing his official assistance dog jacket and Emma showed her licence, but it had no affect on the staff.<\/p>\n

“I was told that I was not going to be seated in the restaurant because I had the dog. I was told I would have to sit in the public bar, which I felt uncomfortable with,” Emma said.<\/p>\n

“I produced Bailey’s licence and attempted to show (the staff). Both refused to even look at it or provide me with their names. I was also told they would not seat me because other diners might not want the dog around.<\/p>\n

“She then said she would ask the other diners if they were willing to have the dog around. I told her that it doesn’t work like that and that she was discriminating against me because I had Bailey and I need him with me for my disability.<\/p>\n

“She was adamant that I was not to be seated in the restaurant. She again refused to listen or look at the licence, so I read the explanation to her aloud.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“She spoke over the top of me and refused to listen, telling me that she didn\u2019t care. This happened in the public bar and it was embarrassing and humiliating being treated and dismissed the way I was.<\/p>\n

“It wasn\u2019t just that I was being discriminated against; she was being really rude and made no attempt to understand her responsibilities and obligations in the given situation.<\/p>\n

“I understand that not all people fully understand the rights and roles of assistance dogs, but there is no need to remain ignorant and dismissive if someone is trying to explain that discrimination was taking place, it was unfair and against the law.<\/p>\n

“In my experience most people are eager and willing to listen and quickly understand that Bailey isn\u2019t just a pet dog, rather he has been highly trained to conduct specific tasks.<\/p>\n

“To continue to refuse to seat me like they would any other person, especially when I attempted to explain the law, was grossly unfair. The whole experience was really upsetting.”<\/p>\n

Emma has previously lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission over discrimination after a ride-share driver refused to honour her booking because she had Bailey. On that occasion, she says the driver was ordered to donate $5000 to an Assistance Dogs organisation.<\/p>\n

Footnote:\u00a0 southburnett.com.au twice attempted to get a response from the hotel concerned, but the woman who answered on the second occasion said there was no comment she could make that “we would not twist round” and hung up.<\/em><\/p>\n