A police crackdown on nudists at Alexandria Bay, media reports and a flurry of emails from locals and visitors led Noosa MP Sandy Bolton to ask residents what they really thought about making A-Bay a legal clothing-optional beach.
Staff at Ms Bolton’s electorate office initiated a survey, advertised it on social media, to newsletter subscribers, in local newspapers and radio, and ran it from 4-24 May asking just two questions:
1. Would you support Queensland laws changing to allow for legalised clothing optional beaches?
2. Would you support Alexandria Bay at Noosa National Park as a legalised clothing optional beach in Queensland?
There were 1545 respondents, 572 from outside the electorate which were discarded, leaving 973 from Noosa residents.
The response to both questions was an overwhelming yes.
More than 84 per cent or 820 respondents said yes to legalising clothing optional beaches in Queensland and of those 820 more than 96 per cent or 733 residents said yes to Alexandria Bay becoming a legal clothing optional beach.
From those who said no, a common theme emerged that clothing optional beaches attracted predators and increased lewd behaviour, leading to safety issues.
Electorate staff have sought information on these concerns raised from states that host clothing optional beaches.
The survey included information on clothing optional beaches in Australia, as follows.
Historically, Alexandria Bay, situated in a fairly isolated location and not well known to visitors, has been an unofficial nudist beach for more than five decades. With the increased popularity of Noosa National Park and the coastal walking track, A-Bay has attracted more visitors.
There are currently no legalised clothing free, clothing optional, or nudist beaches in Queensland (or Tasmania).
It is an offence to be on a public beach in these two states without any clothing. People doing so can be charged in Queensland with wilful exposure or public nuisance.
Legalised clothing optional beaches have existed in other states and territories since 1975.
Noosa police recently conducted an operation at Alexandria Bay, in response to reports of lewd behaviour. The operation resulted in charges of wilful exposure for a number of residents.
“As an Independent MP, it is important for Sandy to hear directly from constituents, as she does not simply adopt the ideology or beliefs of any particular political party, nor her own views, instead strives to represent the diversity of the Noosa electorate,“ the survey stated.
After conducting the survey, Ms Bolton sent a Question on Notice to the Police Minister, asking whether he will commit to reviewing the operation of wilful exposure laws (regarding clothing optional beaches) in Queensland, as well the Local Government Minister, or provide the rationale as to why not.
The responses to matters raised by the office will be posted to Ms Bolton’s Noosa 360 site.
People wishing to advocate on the issue with the relevant Ministers were advised to email them and cc the Noosa office at noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au
Email addresses for Police Minister Mark Ryan is police@ministerial.qld.gov.au and for Local Government Minister Steven Miles is premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Participants outside the Noosa State Electorate were advised to send their views to their local Queensland MP as any changes to current legislation would require a majority vote of MPs in Queensland Parliament.
