Gender-neutral facilities could become a requirement for all Victorian workplaces, pending the outcome of a WorkSafe review into its amenities and work environment compliance code. The current code only states that amenities must be clean, hygienic, safe and secure to meet employees’ needs.
The review, already under way, is focusing specifically on the requirement to provide adequate facilities for the welfare of anyone in a workplace. This includes providing gender-diverse toilet facilities.
“All employers have an obligation to ensure every worker is protected from the risk of gendered violence and sexual harassment in the workplace, regardless of their gender identity,” a WorkSafe spokesman said.
Some major sporting stadiums are already making the move ahead of the review. The AFL said all-gender toilet facilities would be part of the Marvel Stadium redevelopment, and the Melbourne Cricket Club was considering inclusive facilities at the MCG.
“We are investigating a number of diversity and inclusion actions within the existing infrastructure,” an MCC spokesman said. “The MCC is deeply committed to ensuring we continue to deliver the MCG as an inclusive and safe venue for the entire community.”
Opposition state industrial relations and workplace safety spokesman Tim Smith said it was ridiculous that WorkSafe’s priorities were on gender-neutral toilets when it was still, theoretically, investigating the disastrous hotel quarantine program.
“I can’t believe that this is a WorkSafe priority when they can’t even find who was responsible in the Andrews Labor government for appointing private security guards to dodgy hotel quarantine,” Mr Smith said. “WorkSafe is responsible for investigating the deaths of 801 Victorians (and) now they are talking about gender-neutral toilets. We want to know who is responsible for the deaths.”
Feedback from community organisations and the public will be sought as part of the WorkSafe review.
Source: Herald Sun
