Celebrity Chef faces discrimination claim

Celebrity chef Philip Johnson, who has closed down one Brisbane city restaurant, is facing a discrimination claim over lack of wheelchair access at his other high-end eatery.

Disability advocate Peter Yeo brought the claim against Mr Johnson because he claims he could not get into the upstairs dining room at award-winning inner-city E'cco Bistro in his wheelchair.

he problem initially arose after Mr Yeo was unable to join friends for a Christmas dinner two years ago and the case has gone from Anti-Discrimination Commission to a tribunal.

Mr Johnson, who attended a directions hearing at Queensland Civil and Administration Tribunal yesterday, last week announced he had chosen to close his other up-market eatery Bistro One Eleven.

The restaurant opened a year ago in Eagle St in the city.

Peter Yeo is taking on E'cco restaurant over it's disability access.

Mr Yeo, a former Australian Rules player who became a quadriplegic in 2002, wants E'cco Bistro to convert an existing goods lift to provide additional wheelchair access.

The restaurant is in a building at 100 Boundary St, a former tea warehouse, owned by prominent architect Robert Riddel.

"All restaurants and places where the public can attend functions should look after people with disabilities and in wheelchairs,'' Mr Yeo said.

It is claimed Mr Yeo, who runs spinal charity PointZero5, was told by the restaurant that the upstairs dining room could not accommodate people in wheelchairs.

It is alleged the restaurant had offered to serve him food in a downstairs wheelchair-accessible bar area, but that was not acceptable to Mr Yeo.

At the tribunal yesterday senior member Clare Endicott directed Mr Yeo's lawyer to join the building owner as a respondent in the case, which she set down for a two-day hearing in March.

Ms Endicott was told restaurants were currently facing "difficult trading conditions''.

Mr Johnson's lawyer told the tribunal the restaurateur leased the premises and was having discussions with the landlord about the complaint.

Mr Yeo's lawyer told the hearing it was up to the business owner, Mr Johnson, to ensure the premises were wheelchair accessible.

Outside the tribunal Mr Johnson declined to comment, other than to say: "It's not my building.''

Mr Riddel, who is yet to formally respond to the complaint, also declined to comment.

Mr Yeo also has brought a discrimination claim against Brisbane Polo Club alleging a lack of wheelchair access. The club is defending the claim, which is yet to be heard.

Source: Perth Now, 14 October 2013