By Nick Dent
Kylie Minogue fans in wheelchairs who shelled out up to $302.75 to see the pop superstar in her Tension tour at Boondall this week spent hours of the concert unable to see the stage.
Fans who were standing blocked views for wheelchair users in one of the Brisbane Entertainment Centre’s accessible sections, according to an eyewitness account.
Front-of-house co-ordinators did not appear to be on hand to assist, said Joshua Jones, who was seated nearby.
A wheelchair user struggles to see the stage and screens at the Kylie Minogue concert at Brisbane Entertainment Centre.Credit: Joshua Jones
Jones said he saw one wheelchair user complain to security at the start of the concert. That person was moved to a spot with better visibility of the stage, but security did not come back to the section to offer others assistance, he said.
“Two young women tried to lift their friend out of her [wheel]chair, supporting her around the neck so she could see the stage ... After one song, they were forced to sit again.”
Help eventually arrived at 9.57pm, more than two hours after the concert had begun, in the form of a Frontier Touring representative, who found alternative seating for the party closer to the stage.
“Far too little, too late,” Jones said.
“I can’t help but feel that Kylie Minogue, a performer who brings so much joy to her fans, would be heartbroken to hear that some of her admirers were unable to enjoy the experience.”
Sporting Wheelies chief operating officer Dane Cross said issues like this “shouldn’t be happening in 2025”.
He said venues should not only consider whether their spaces were accessible and functional, but also if their staff had adequate training in how to respond when accessibility issues rise.
Kylie’s latest crop of shows have garnered rave reviews.Credit: Joe Armao
A Brisbane Entertainment Centre spokesperson responded that more than 450 guests with accessibility needs were assisted over the two Kylie Minogue concerts this week.
They said the venue had multiple dedicated front-of-house staff primarily to assist guests on arrival and throughout the event.
They said that previous feedback from wheelchair advocates requested an inclusive experience on the Main Arena floor, and not to be segregated.
“As a result, seating on both the reserved and the general admission floor was introduced and is included as part of every event build,” they said.
The BEC said that it had received positive feedback from wheelchair users in the past.
Cross said that the challenge facing venues was to avoid segregation, or wheelchair users being separated from their friends, while providing adequate sight lines.
Mobility device user and frequent Boondall patron Tim McCallum agreed.
“I would never complain about someone standing up in front of me dancing at a concert. You’re going to a Kylie Minogue concert, Kylie is renowned for having songs that make you want to dance.
“Instead, have an accessible platform, so people with disabilities can see over those that stand. I’ve seen that at many venues around the country.”
A spokesperson for Frontier Touring said that affected fans on Wednesday night were offered free tickets to the following night’s performance in a different seating location.
The 13,500-capacity Brisbane Entertainment Centre opened in 1986.
Its location and susceptibility to late-night traffic jams have made it controversial with visitors. Nevertheless it is slated to host Olympic events in 2032.
“This is old infrastructure, and back then when these places were built, access and inclusion wasn’t front of mind,” Cross said.
“That’s why it’s important now that whoever’s designing new and retrofitted facilities that universal design is applied and that access and inclusion is at the forefront of thinking.”
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