The New South Wales Parliament recently completed an inquiry into the provision, design, accessibility and maintenance of public toilets, recognising the critical role toilets play in enabling participation, dignity and inclusion across communities.
The inquiry examined gaps in current regulation, funding responsibilities, planning frameworks and operational practices, particularly for people with disability, older adults, families, carers and others who rely on accessible and well-located facilities to move confidently through public spaces.
Access Institute welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the inquiry. Director Joe Manton was invited to give evidence and provided both a formal written submission and live online testimony. Our response draws on more than 30 years of national experience in access consulting education, assessment and policy advisory work.
While acknowledging positive intent in the Government’s response, Access Institute has prepared a companion commentary identifying key limitations, unresolved gaps and risks that remain if public toilet provision continues to rely solely on minimum regulatory compliance. Our response highlights why broader inclusive design, operational planning and long-term accountability are essential to deliver usable, dignified facilities for real users, not just compliant infrastructure.
Why This Matters Nationally
While the inquiry was conducted in New South Wales, the issues it identifies are not unique to one state. Across Australia, public toilet provision is governed by a patchwork of minimum compliance requirements, fragmented responsibilities between agencies, and inconsistent funding and maintenance models.
The NSW inquiry highlights challenges that are shared nationally – including gaps between regulatory compliance and real usability, the absence of consistent benchmarks for accessible and inclusive facilities, and the ongoing reliance on discretionary decision-making rather than user-centred planning.
As such, the findings and responses to this inquiry provide a valuable reference point for all jurisdictions, offering insight into how public toilets can be better planned, designed and managed to support dignity, participation and equitable access for communities across Australia.
Access Institute’s full response to the NSW Public Toilet Inquiry is available by contacting Director (Ms. Joe Manton) at [email protected]
