A Sydney family has launched legal action against Virgin Australia and the federal government, claiming their twins were denied bathroom access on a flight.
The family, who are representing themselves in a Federal Court lawsuit against Virgin Australia, allege the disabled twins were refused access to a plane bathroom and stranded in Bali.
The children, who have not been named, required wheelchair assistance on a flight from Brisbane to Denpasar in Bali in July 2025.
They were allegedly discriminated against due to a condition affecting their mobility, balance and endurance, reports Australian Associated Press.
Cabin crew allegedly denied both children access to the toilets at the front of the aircraft.
“The [twins] were instead directed to traverse the full length of the aircraft cabin without assistance, notwithstanding [Virgin Australia’s] prior knowledge of their reduced mobility,” court documents seen by AAP on Tuesday say.
The parents claimed no reasonable adjustments were offered for their twins, who, as a result, experienced significant psychological distress and functional regression.
After the family became stranded in Bali in August 2025, the parents sued the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade over alleged failures to provide assistance.
It’s alleged the government failed to offer accurate information to assist the family.
Virgin’s parent company Bain Capital allegedly failed to prevent further discrimination by intervening when the family was stranded in Bali.
“[This] conduct disrupted the family’s support arrangements, including reliance on extended family carers, and caused ongoing anxiety and loss of confidence in accessing public and transport services,” the parents wrote.
Initially, the case went before the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Delegate Rachel Holt found the discrimination claims against Virgin were reasonably arguable but could not be settled through private negotiations and a decision was made to terminate the complaint in December 2025.
The family’s claims against Bain and DFAT were said to have lacked substance.
In its submissions to the Human Rights Commission, DFAT denied breaching discrimination law, arguing that the family had failed to show how they were treated less favourably than a person without a disability.