Emma Donovan Slams Perth Taxi Drivers Over Alleged Racism: ‘I Am Absolutely Fuming’

Emma Donovan has opened up about an abhorrent experience she had at Perth Airport last week, when multiple taxi drivers allegedly refused to serve her on the basis of her skin colour.

READ MORE: Emma Donovan: ‘I Wanna Celebrate My Songs And My Stories Now’

The renowned singer-songwriter and Naaguja/Yamatji woman posted about the incident at 11:20pm last Friday (June 7), right after she’d departed her flight in from Melbourne (Naarm) – where she performed a launch show for her just-released solo album, Til My Song Is Done, the previous night (June 6). In her post, Donovan alleged that two taxi drivers at the airport refused to accept her as a passenger, with one going so far as to “comment that he doesn’t like ‘my kind’”.

“I am absolutely fuming writing this in tears and anger,” Donovan said. “I will be reporting these guys somehow.”

The artist went on to note that a “kind fulla” offered her a lift to Vic Park in his own car, and said of the situation as a whole: “I know this wasn’t because of a short fare, I know this was racism at its finest.”

Speaking to the ABC, Donovan expounded on her story: “Before I could put my hand on the door handle, the cab driver jumps out and says, ‘Where are you going?’ And I said, ‘I’m headed over to the Vic Park’ – I had my car there, that I was ready to collect after that – and he just looked at me [and said], ‘Nup.’

“There was the comment made, as well, that they don’t take my kind – and straight away, I knew it was because of the colour of my skin. And I stood there... I was crying by this point, and I said, ‘You don’t want to take me because of a short fare? Or you’re not taking me because of the colour of my skin?”

In a statement shared with TheMusic.com.au, a spokesperson for Perth Airport leapt to Donovan’s defence, affirming that “there is no place for racism in our society”. They continued: “The taxi industry is regulated by the State Government. We would urge Ms Donovan to lodge a report with the Department of Transport and we would be happy to assist her with lodging the complaint.

“Perth Airport will identify if there is any CCTV footage of the incident and will provide this to the Department to assist any investigation of the allegations. Perth Airport will also be issuing a reminder to all taxi companies of our expectation that all passengers be treated with courtesy and dignity.”

Donovan has since confirmed that she has filed a report against the drivers alleged to have abused her.

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport also reached out to TheMusic.com.au, confirming it has “commenced its own investigation” and “will assist [Donovan] in formalising her complaint, should she wish to”. The department affirmed that it “does not tolerate racist behaviour by on-demand transport drivers”.

The department’s statement continued: “Drivers of on-demand rank or hail (taxi) vehicles must accept any passenger, unless [in the case of specific circumstances outlined on the department’s website]... Refusing a service to a passenger outside of these circumstances may result in penalties of up to $3,000.”