The owner of Tasmania’s quirky Pooseum has lost her fight to keep children under eight out of her Richmond museum, with a tribunal ruling the age restriction amounts to unlawful discrimination.
Karin Koch, who runs the faeces-themed museum, had sought a three-year exemption from anti-discrimination laws in March so she could stop young children from entering the venue.
But on November 18, the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) upheld the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner’s (ADC) decision to refuse that exemption.
Koch argued the museum’s displays were aimed at teenagers and adults, with written information, videos and interactive screens that required sustained attention.
She said that before introducing the age restriction in July 2024, young children caused daily damage to exhibits – something that hasn’t happened since.
“I become a child attendant in my own workplace,” she said, describing how parents often failed to supervise their children despite repeated reminders.
Koch also raised safety concerns, saying unsupervised children had on several occasions run through the museum and bumped into elderly visitors.
As the sole staff member, she said managing young children made it impossible to properly engage with other guests.
However, TASCAT found the real issue was parental supervision rather than the age of the children themselves.
“… There was no evidence before the ADC that children under the age of eight were any more troublesome or clumsy than those aged beyond that age,” the tribunal found.
“In essence, it appears that Ms Koch’s major concern is not with the attendance of children under the age of eight years in the Pooseum per se, but rather the failure of parents and guardians to supervise their children within the Pooseum.”
The tribunal noted that existing laws already allow venues to require children to be accompanied by adults where there’s a reasonable risk of disruption or danger.
TASCAT also said younger children could benefit from the museum’s content, with many able to read or understand audio-visual material.
It suggested alternative approaches such as charging entrance fees, imposing stricter supervision rules or modifying exhibits.
The museum’s website continues to state the “minimum age for entry” is eight.
