Ernie Dingo says Broome taxi driver refused to take him into town during stop-over

Legendary WA actor Ernie Dingo says a taxi operator refused to drive him into town during a stopover flight in Broome, moments before dropping “white” passengers off at the same spot. In a lengthy social media post on Wednesday, the former Great Outdoors host and Bran Nue Dae star said he had asked the driver to drop him into Chinatown — the Kimberley town’s main CBD — who told him he could just walk there. Posting about the encounter on Facebook, Dingo, who is a proud Yamatji man, said some “ghudias” — or non-Indigenous people — were then helped with their bags and taken to the same spot. “Whatever you do bleggies (people of colour) don’t catch a taxi in Broome from the airport to Chinatown if you’re on a stop-over to Darwin,” he wrote. Recounting the conversation between himself and the driver, Dingo said he was told: “It is just there, you can walk... do you have bags, big heavy bags? No, then you can walk.” “I don’t need a tour guide, I want a taxi driver,” he wrote. “I got the phone out and started videoing. “Are you a f.....g taxi service or a f.....g tour guide (a bit much wasn’t it, the swearing). “I did continue videoing even as he asked me to shut the door, so I opened it wider and stepped back.” Dingo says he was told: “It doesn’t matter, it is just over there, you can walk, it is only $2 & not worth my while.” “Along came some ghudias & he jumped out to help them put their day bags in the back of his taxi,” he wrote. “‘Where are you mob going?’ I asked them. “‘We’re just going into Chinatown’ & off they went.” Dingo, who is a designated Australian National Living Treasure, rose to fame as a talented actor, TV presenter, comedian and athlete. He was named a Member of the Order of Australia in 1990 for his service to performing arts. His most recent works include a supporting part in the ABC miniseries Mystery Road and reviving his role as Uncle Tadpole in the 2020 Bran Nue Dae stage musical.