By ABC News

Copyright abc

Virgin Australia has apologised to a mother-of-two who was asked to leave the airline’s Melbourne lounge on Monday because she was pumping breast milk.

In a story posted to her social media, Elise Turner said she was asked by a staff member to leave the lounge to breastfeed in a bathroom.

“This is pretty unbelievable and I’m beyond furious right now,” Dr Turner said in a since-expired social media post.

“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.”

Dr Turner says she attempted to “politely provide education” to the staff member that breastfeeding is protected under the Sex Discrimination Act of 1984.

Under the Act, it is considered discrimination when a woman is treated less favourably because she is breastfeeding.

In her social media post, Dr Turner said she asked the staff member if she prepared her own dinner “in a shared bathroom, a public bathroom or a public toilet”.

“The staff member’s] 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.”

“This is just disgusting,” she said.

“This is 2025, and this is the sort of treatment that lactating mothers are expected to deal with.”

In a statement, the Virgin Australia said it had apologised to Dr Turner directly.

“We are sorry for the way this situation was handled,” the airline said in a statement.

“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 apologise directly.”

Virgin Australia said it had since followed up on the matter with the staff member involved.