Something as simple as getting public toilets right can make or break whether a significant number of people are able to fully participate in community life. Few know this better than people with chronic medical conditions, parents of young children, people with a disability and carers, people on their period or who are pregnant, and people who are transgender or gender diverse.
I chaired the NSW inquiry into public toilets that delivered 22 detailed recommendations for a comprehensive overhaul of how public toilets are planned, designed, funded and maintained.
Members of Parliament and inquiry witnesses celebrate the tabling of the report at NSW Parliament on October 16
We're calling on MPs to back these reforms including:
- Legislating public toilets under the Public Health Act with ministerial accountability
- Universal design standards with individual cubicles providing full privacy and internal amenities to replace traditional multi-stall facilities
- All-gender bathrooms either in addition to or instead of gendered facilities
- Free sunscreen dispensers in outdoor recreation areas
- Subsidies for private providers to open toilets to the public in dense urban areas
- Support for councils to conduct audits and develop local public toilet strategies
The Government has until the 16th of January 2026 to respond to the inquiry recommendations.