Women MPs join protest over NSW Parliament bathroom gender gap.

By Lucy McNally

Female MPs and their staff have staged a “loo coup” at NSW Parliament, taking over the men’s bathroom to prove a point about gender inequality in the building’s facilities.

Armed with their hair straighteners and blow-dryers, about a dozen women gathered to call for better toilets and showers.

The Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington, said it may seem trivial to point out that the men have better facilities, including more showers, a full-length mirror and more basins, “but at the end of the day the needs of women have not been factored into the design of this building”.

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Shelley Hancock, agreed.

"This was a building that was built in the 80s, probably with men in mind, perhaps it was acceptable then, but it's not now," she said.

Ms Hancock said she inspected the men's bathroom and was shocked to see the disparity.

"Certainly the ladies have a case to make - the men by comparison have a huge amount of space: bench space, mirror space, it's unfair."

She suggested swapping the facilities so women have the larger bathroom.

"It would cost probably half a million [dollars] to equalise those two areas now and that's not necessarily an item we can cover at this stage," Ms Hancock said.

"But let's see what the men say in response. Maybe they'd be quite happy to change the space."

The Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison, said on her floor there was only one female shower, while the men have three.

"Updating buildings is often the last bastion in gender equality so that's why it's important to raise it," she said.

President of the Legislative Council Don Harwin was the only man who turned up to the bathroom protest.

"The disparity reflects the very small number of women serving in the NSW Parliament when the extensions were approved in 1976," he said.

"At that time, there was one woman in the Legislative Assembly and seven women in the Legislative Council."

In 2013, Mr Harwin looked into the prospect of expanding the female bathroom so there was a "more equitable arrangement".

However, he said the cost was too high.

"At the time the cost estimates were between $400,000 and $500,000," he said.

"Obviously we'd like to be able to do this as soon as some money becomes available to do it, but there have been some more urgent priorities over the last two years."

This post originally appeared on the ABC and was republished here with full permission. 

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