MEDIA RELEASE

Prohibit Council ‘Unisex Only’ Gender Neutral Amenities Blocks Petition

People should be able to choose to walk into male, female, unisex/disability rest rooms and not be
forced to share the same space because of cost cutting.
Safe access to public restrooms is an essential need for men, women and children plus other
genders.

It is clear that the Master Plan voted on by Fraser Coast Regional Councillors showed male and
female toilets with no mention of ‘unisex’.
Without community consultation, Council decided they could change and build something different
to the approved plan. In my opinion this could have been handled differently with locals.
The State and Federal governments have spent billions of dollars on protecting women and
children. 

Gender inequality underpins many problems which disproportionately affect women and girls, such
as domestic and sexual violence, lower pay and now they can’t even have their own toilet.
There’s a long way to go until all women can enjoy these rights especially when local government
is taking away access to a safe shower and/or toilet.

Women spend on average 30 seconds more than men in the bathroom due to three specific points:

1. Biological – Bladder is smaller because their body needs more space for their reproductive
system, they have their menstruation and they always do their needs sitting down.

2. Social roles – Women are almost always in charge of taking their small children to the toilet.

3. Clothes – While a man only unzips his pants, a woman must undress half her body to urinate;
leaving her in a vulnerable position to begin with.

The first public male toilet was in 1739 and it wasn’t until 1902 that women were afforded the same
right. It has taken the Fraser Coast Regional Council only 122 years to discriminate against women
and take that right away from them. 

Inclusion and equality mean that women’s facilities need to be provided at a greater ratio than
men’s. 

Men’s urinals take up less space and it is common for the female area to be reduced by baby
changing stations. Women have fewer toilet units in the same square meters.

The ongoing problem of the inadequate number of facilities and fragmented nature of policy has had a particular impact on women. 

Women are predominantly caregivers. We won’t ever have gender equality if women can’t access toilets. It’s critical to acknowledge women’s concerns regarding the prospect of sexual assault in using gender-inclusive bathrooms. 

It is going to get to a stage where women won’t want to enter a public toilet at all. Supposed elected representatives not taking into account the court of public opinion. 

Please sign the Parliamentary petition for separate same-sex facilities for safety, security and comfort of men, women, children and other genders.

https://stephenandrew.com.au/2024/01/31/prohibit-council-unisex-only-gender-neutral-amenitiesblocks/