Government guide tells agencies to promote ‘gender-sensitive approach’ to disaster plans

In the event of a natural disaster, such as catastrophic bushfires or deadly floods, it is vital emergency evacuation shelters are equipped with transgender bathrooms — that’s the $96,000 message from a federal government-funded guide telling emergency service agencies to promote a “gender-sensitive approach” to the planning for and ­delivery of disaster relief and recovery.

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In the event of a natural disaster, such as catastrophic bushfires or deadly floods, it is vital emergency evacuation shelters are equipped with transgender bathrooms, while household emergency plans should be updated through a “gender lens”.

That’s the $96,000 message from a federal government-funded guide telling emergency service agencies to promote a “gender-sensitive approach” to the planning for and ­delivery of disaster relief and recovery.

It was developed by Victoria-based organisation Women’s Health Goulburn North East in 2016 with funding provided by the federal ­Attorney-General’s office.

“These guidelines are ­designed to address the needs of women, men, and everyone of diverse gender and sexual identities, including LGBTI people, and to minimise the negative impact of gender stereotypes on all members of the community,” the guide states.

A government-funded guide outlines a “gender-sensitive approach” to the planning for and ­delivery of disaster relief and recovery by emergency services. Pictured is Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Brigadier Scott Winter of the Australian Army (right) visiting flood affected areas in Townsville earlier this month. Picture: AFP

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It also claims gender stereotypes of women as nurturing could harm them, because they would be too busy caring for others when disaster struck.

“This extra responsibility for others can inhibit the ability of women to escape and/or protect themselves from harm ­during an emergency,” it states.

The guidelines address the needs of women, men and people of diverse gender and sexual identities, including LGBTI people, to minimise the negative impact of gender stereotypes on all members of the community during natural disasters. Picture: AFP

It also recommends emergency accommodation should acknowledge different genders.

“For example, consider facilities such as bathrooms, toilets and showers beyond ‘Male’ and ‘Female’, and, where possible, provide an option for transgender and intersex people to reduce fears and vulnerability,” the guide states.

It also says household emergency guides should be updated through “a gender lens”.

“Employ professional support to update household guides … with a gender lens to ensure the different needs of women, men, and everyone of diverse gender and sexual identities, including LGBTI people, are covered in preparing for an emergency,” it says.

“The way people act is often the result of social conditioning and people may adopt or revert to traditional or stereotypical gendered roles before, during and after emergencies which can leave them at a ­disadvantage.”

The guide also advises emergency agencies consider facilities such as toilets should be catered to beyond ‘male’ and ‘female’.

Centre for Independent Studies senior research fellow Jeremy Sammut said academics and bureaucrats had manufactured a problem.

“Disasters don’t discriminate and there is precious little evidence that emergency ­service workers discriminate either,” he said.

“This is … diversity industry busybodies trying to justify their own existence and try and infest all aspects of society with this divisive identity politics ideology.”

He said it was a distraction from keeping people safe.