Law or Culture?

Message / Question

is it illegal for men to be inside a women’s bathroom and vice versa? I ask because I’ve seen dads with their daughters in the ladies bathroom on numerous occasions... they try to look down, and usually apologise. Is it more of a cultural thing about gender specific toilets?

Response

I’m not a lawyer so my comment is purely opinion. In Australia, I do not believe that it would be illegal but it would certainly break a few cultural barriers. I may be possible, if a woman felt offended or threatened by the man’s presence, the man may find himself charged with offensive conduct or sexual harassment, but I would imagine that, in the circumstances described, the man would be unlikely to be convicted. In NSW (and possibly other States as well) a charge under the Summary Offences Act may be technically possible, but again, in the circumstances described, I doubt that the man would be convicted.