Nudists are not welcome here: the suppression of a nude beach in Noosa has revealed an uncomfortable trend for Australia

In the Australian county of Noosa, Queensland, the authorities have launched a real crackdown on nudists. This is the only state on the Australian mainland without a legally recognised naturist beach.

Locals recall that since at least the 1960s of the 20th century, people have been swimming freely on several beaches. Everyone knew that nudists liked to retire in these places, the Guardian writes.

But the era of authorities turning a blind eye to nudist beaches came to an abrupt end when police issued seven fines worth $287 and four warnings for intentional nudity.

The police said the crackdown followed numerous complaints about unsavoury and predatory behaviour, including masturbation, around the nudist beach.

"It was an unofficial nudist beach," Noosa Detective Sergeant Anthony Cowan told a local newspaper a few days later. "Now it's officially banned. We will be enforcing it."

What is the reason for the closure of the beach for nudists

Many parts of Australia are investigating the removal of the optional clothing status for several legal nudist beaches, primarily citing concerns about indecent acts. This is not about the naturists themselves, but about the people around them who sometimes behave in a provocative manner.

Cameras now record the registration of vehicles entering the beach car park, signs indicate where nudity is allowed, police strictly enforce the law where it is not, and a committee of safe beaches of "real naturists" monitors and reports inappropriate behaviour.

"This had to happen to make sure we can get rid of all the inappropriate behaviour," say law enforcement officials.

Given that one of these bans is to combat public indecency, naturists say they want to help eradicate it. According to nudists, there is nothing sexual about being naked on the beach. "It's something for the bedroom, not for the public. They are not related."

And if Queensland naturists had an officially recognised beach where they could bare their bums, they would be the first to call the police to report perverts.

What the local authorities offer

It is noted that in order to make the local bay a legal nudist beach, it is first necessary to amend the Queensland legislation and then support the local council.

The local parliament held a community consultation among its constituents on this topic. 820 residents supported changing the state's laws to allow legal nude beaches, and 798 supported the beach being considered a legal nude beach.

Moreover, many of the nudist camp have lived in Noosa for decades, recalling the days when it was "the laid-back lifestyle we're talking about". For them, the April crackdown came as "a real shock".

Local lawmakers are now "getting the facts and data" on whether legalising nude bathing will lead to an increase in unacceptable behaviour. If they are satisfied, most likely not, they will submit to parliament the support of their constituents for legal nude bathing in the bay.