Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Nick Visser

John, 75, wanted a taxi outside Sydney airport to take him 1.5km to his hotel. Drivers refused

Sign on top of taxi
The fine for taxi drivers for the first fare-related offence will be increased from $1,000 to $3,000 in an effort to deter drivers from overcharging, refusing fares or failing to use their meters. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

John Heron’s four-hour flight from Perth landed in Sydney on Tuesday, just before 10.30pm. The 75-year-old had booked a nearby hotel, about 1.5km away, to spend the night after the late arrival.

Heron grabbed his bag, left the airport and wandered over to the taxi rank across from the Virgin Australia terminal about half an hour later. A worker at the rank directed him to a taxi waiting in a bay. But Heron said the cab refused his fare because the trip was too short.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.