Addressing sanitation injustice through local government public toilet strategies

Sanitation injustice exists when people do not have equitable access to sanitation infrastructure. Public toilet strategies can address sanitary injustices in public spaces across cities, towns and regions, but very few local governments in Australia have formalised policies. Two notable exceptions are Cardinia Shire Council located on Melbourne’s urban fringe and Inner West Council in Sydney. Using learnings from these case sites, this briefing paper explores the role of local government in providing and maintaining public toilet infrastructure. Articulating four priority areas for driving change, it provides guidance for local governments seeking to deliver sanitation justice through effective public toilet strategies.