THE Australian Sex Party has slammed a recent spike in fines for wilful exposure at Noosa’s unofficial nudist beach, calling for locals to protest.
Australian Sex Party acting president for the Queensland branch Dr Mark McGovern said the party was “dismayed” by recent prosecutions for wilful exposure of “at least six citizens enjoying naturism at Alexandria Bay (A Bay)”.
“It does seem particularly bizarre these prosecutions have occurred on an unofficial nudist beach of some 30 years,” he said.
Noosa Heads officer in charge Senior Sergeant Steve McReight said fining people for wilful exposure at A Bay was not a priority policing issue.
“But, if people complain we will respond and do our job,” he said.
“If we receive complaints about wilful exposure then we will attend the beach.”
Dr McGovern said the party was also “perplexed” by the “inherent sexism” of reports in local media stating “only males are capable of being arrested for wilful exposure as female genitalia does not ‘hang out’.”
“The most bizarre bit is singling out men for prosecution as only their bits ‘hang out’,” he said.
According to the Summary Offences Act (2005) (Number 4, section 9), males and females can be fined; “a person must not wilfully expose his or her genitals, unless the person has a reasonable excuse”.
Dr McGovern said the Australian Sex Party was calling on the State Government to amend the Summary Offences Act to allow local councils to designate clothing-optional beaches.
Noosa Edge Nudist Retreat owner and operator Rainer Mueckenberger said legalising a nudist beach in Noosa would have a “positive impact for all parties”.
“Legalising Alexandria Bay would stop the double standards and minority of people causing havoc for nudists and allow people to freely follow their naturist lifestyle,” he said.
“Nudity is a natural and normal state of being that should be embraced and supported in all its positive forms.”
To garner support, the Australian Sex Party will hold a clothing-optional public support meeting at the southern end of Alexandria Bay on Saturday 3 October from 11am.
