NSW Greens MP hits out at Premier Chris Minns over stance on gendered public toilets

A political debate has broken out over a push for male and female toilets to be replaced with gender-neutral cubicles across NSW.

The NSW government has shot down calls for legislative changes to the state’s public toilet blocks after a push for male and female toilets to be replaced with gender-neutral cubicles.

Premier Chris Minns has committed to retaining gendered toilets in NSW after advocates pushed for new regulations to ensure public toilets “reflect marginalised members of the community”.

Debate over toilet facilities has been sparked by the launch of parliamentary inquiry into public toilets which is investigating whether new standards, legislation or other regulations are warranted.

In a statement to this publication, a spokesman for Mr Minns said any ban on the facilities “would be ruled out”.

Despite this, the inquiry into toilet facilities will proceed next year with hearings due to be held in March before the inquiry makes formal recommendations to the NSW government.

NSW Premier Chris Minns.

State Greens MP Amanda Cohn – who is chairing the inquiry – has accused Mr Minns of a “knee-jerk” reaction to block any proposed changes before the committee can investigate the issue.

“It’s incredibly disappointing that even before we’ve held hearings it seems a decision has already been taken,” she said.

Multiple submissions to the inquiry have called for changes to public toilets including a submission from the Inner City Legal Centre which wants the government to “prioritise the safety, dignity, and inclusivity of all individuals, particularly individuals who do not fit within typical gender expectations and norms”.

State Greens MP Amanda Cohn.

“Female, male and unisex signage should be replaced with “all-gender” signage,” legal centre chief executive Katie Green said in the submission.

However, multiple state and local politicians have opposed changes, with concerns families could be frightened away from public amenities if rules regarding showers and changing rooms are altered.

“I’d be worried that changing the rules would deter families from going to the beach,” Independent NSW MP Michael Regan said.

“It’s not the number one issue for NSW and I think there needs to be a level of common sense around the issue.”

Leah Howarth, Sophie Evans, Rylee Goodwin and Leilani Rizzo at Clovelly on Monday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The Daily Telegraph spoke with multiple beachgoers at Clovelly to gauge their thoughts on the proposal with 20-year-old Leah Howarth of the mind the change could be “safe for some [but] could hurt others”.Ms Howarth’s friend, Leilani Rizzo, agreed, stating there is “definitely a better solution than what is being proposed”.

“I don’t think I’d personally want to share a public bathroom with men. It’s private,” Ms Rizzo said.

Statistics from Anti Discrimination NSW show it has nine complaints related to the accessible use of public toilets on the grounds of disability and transgender discrimination over the last five years – a figure it says likely under-represents the experience of people who encounter discrimination.