Uber driver refuses to take blind man's guide dog because it would 'mess up his $90k car'

Australia's former disability discrimination commissioner has been refused a fare because an Uber driver said the blind man's guide dog would mess up his car.

Graeme Innes, 61, ordered a car through Uber to take him to pick up his daughter from a Sydney hospital on March 24, The Daily Telegraph.

But when the driver arrived he told Mr Innes, who now works as a lawyer after leaving his role as disability discrimination commissioner in 2014, that he could not take pets.

Mr Innes said when he told the driver he was required to take guide dogs, the driver said: "No this is a new car, this is a brand-new car, it's a $90,000 car, I can't take animals in the car - it will just make it messy."

The driver cancelled the trip and the former disability discrimination commissioner was forced to pay a fee and organise another Uber ride.

Mr Innes said when the second driver arrived he initially refused to take the dog but relented when he was told that he was legally required to do so.

Mr Innes has complained to the Australian Human Rights Commission as well as to Uber.

Uber has refunded Mr Innes' cancellation fee and the cost of his second trip.