A doctor has voiced her outrage after being asked to leave Virgin Australia’s business lounge at Melbourne Airport while expressing breast milk for her seven-month-old twins. Dr. Elise Turner, a general practitioner specializing in women’s health, was using a breast pump in the lounge on Tuesday when she was approached by a service manager and instructed to leave.
Dr. Turner shared her experience in an Instagram video, expressing her disbelief and anger at the situation. “This is pretty unbelievable and I’m beyond furious right now,” she stated. “I’ve been told that I can’t sit here in the Virgin lounge as a paying business-class ticket holder to express breast milk that sits under my shirt because this is a private business lounge and we don’t do that here.”
Legal and Social Context
According to Dr. Turner, the service manager insisted that she should use a bathroom to pump milk, a suggestion she found unacceptable. “I did ask her, ‘Do you prepare your own dinner in a shared bathroom, or a public toilet?’ And she didn’t have an answer for that,” Dr. Turner recounted. She emphasized that such treatment is unacceptable, especially in 2025, highlighting the challenges lactating mothers still face.
Dr. Turner also reminded the staff member that breastfeeding is protected under the 1984 Sex Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Despite this explanation, she was still asked to leave the lounge.
“Her reply was that I am making her and other people uncomfortable,” Dr. Turner said. “And then she put her hand on my arm and asked me to leave the lounge.”
Virgin Australia’s Response
In response to the incident, a Virgin Australia spokeswoman expressed regret over how the situation was handled. “We are sorry for the way this situation was handled,” she stated. “It fell short of the high standards of care and customer service our team strives to deliver. We have reached out to our guest today to apologize directly.”
The airline has reportedly followed up with the staff member involved in the incident. Meanwhile, Melbourne Airport confirmed that there are no restrictions on breastfeeding or pumping milk within the airport premises. The airport offers several parenting rooms equipped with comfortable chairs and microwaves for parents needing to feed or change their children.
Broader Implications and Historical Parallels
This incident has sparked a broader conversation about the rights of breastfeeding mothers in public spaces. Historically, breastfeeding in public has been a contentious issue, with many women facing similar challenges despite legal protections. The 1984 Sex Discrimination Act was a significant step forward in ensuring that women could breastfeed without fear of discrimination, yet incidents like this highlight ongoing societal discomfort.
Experts in women’s rights and public health advocate for greater awareness and sensitivity training for staff in public and private spaces. “Breastfeeding is a natural and necessary part of parenting, and mothers should not be made to feel uncomfortable or unwelcome,” said a spokesperson for a women’s health advocacy group.
Looking Forward
The incident at Virgin Australia underscores the need for continued advocacy and education around breastfeeding rights. As more women share their experiences, companies and public institutions may be prompted to review and improve their policies and training programs.
For Dr. Turner and many others, the hope is that increased awareness will lead to a more inclusive and supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers, ensuring that such incidents become a thing of the past.
