QLD Elections Freedom of Choice Travel issue

I would like to ask all nudists to e-mail Mr Beattie, the QLD State
Premier, to legalise nude beaches in Qld. We are very lucky that QLD
is to have a State Election on Saturday 7th February and
coincidentally that is in National Nude Week so what better time for
this.

Although nudist beaches are illegal in QLD, like anywhere in Australia there
is likely to be a club or resort within 200 kms of where you live.

And regular articles appear as follows in QLD;
SOURCE: http://cheef.com/fwd.html?1455

MOST Townsville residents don't blush at bare-breasted sunbakers, a
survey has revealed.

An overwhelming majority of people who responded to a Townsville
Bulletin survey gave topless sunbaking the thumbs up.

About 26 per cent of the 540 people who responded to the question
said they approved of the activity at local beaches.

A further 47 per cent also gave it the nod, provided the sunbakers
were discreet.

Only 27 per cent of respondents were against the display of bare
breasts on the beach.

The issue of topless sunbathing created a huge stir in Townsville in
May after a 21-year-old Oonoonba resident complained about two women
sunbaking topless on the beachfront opposite Strand Park on a
weekend.

She said her six siblings, all aged 16 and under, were with her at
the time.

She believed the sunbaking women were guilty of indecent exposure.

At the time, the councillor for the division taking in The Strand,
Jim Gleeson, said he did not take issue with women sunbathing
topless.

Cr Gleeson said he had seen bare-breasted women sunbaking on The
Strand for many years and it had never been a problem. But he said
it was inevitable that topless women would attract attention.

He said yesterday he stood by his May comments.

He was not surprised the survey showed most Townsville residents did
not have a problem with topless sunbaking.

Among those offended by the display, the Family Association's North
Queensland branch chairman, Eddie McEvoy-Bowe, said in May he was
opposed to nude or even partially-nude sunbathing.

He said the activity was "generally objectionable".

People should be "appropriately covered" in public, he said

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said police could arrest
someone after receiving a complaint.
___________________________
Also take note this information supplied from Anita of the FBAQ, (Free Beach
Association of QLD)

1. MR Beattie whilst in opposition, promised the FBAQ that he would
legalise nude beaches in QLD when he got into power. He has not kept
this promise.
2. QLD is the only state or territory NOT to have legislatinallowing
nude bathing of locally approaved beaches so we are out of step with
the rest of Australia. Legalisation of nude beaches in other states
has NOT led to a decrease of morals in those states nor has it led to
an increase of sex related crimes at these beaches.
3. The law governing public nudity (Vagrant's Act) is out of date and
badly worded so that it's exact meaning is not clear. The law
discriminates against nudists wishing to live their chosen lifestyle
in freedom. The law is only enforced against men in QLD and therefore
discriminates against men. Police and court time and money is wasted
on prosicuting nudists that could be better spent solving real crimes.
4. The safety of women and children nudists would best be served by
legalised beaches so that nudists can work in conjunction with police
to get rid of undesirables. Alexandria Bay, an unofficial nude beach
has a lower crime rate thatn other beaches on the Sunshine Coast such
as Mooloolaba or Noosa Main Beach. When a crime occurs, information
from nudists has led to the identification and capture of the
criminals involved.
5. People from all walks of life risk breaking the law in order to
live their chosen lifestyle and also risk losing their jobs. There
are a lot of nudists who are teaches, nurses, doctors, lawyers and
even polititions.
6. Naturists on the Sunshine Coast (and there are quite a few of us
here) support Kate Molloy for having the courage to speak publically
in favour of nude beaches. She only won by a slight majority in the
last election and needs our votes.
7. There is a huge potential for the overseas and interstate tourist
trade here in QLD which has the most favoured weather conditions of
any state in Australia. The Nude tourist industry in Europe and
America is massive and we are missing out on this. Each year, the
Alexandria Bay Beach Carnival attracts 600+ tourists to the Sunshine
Coast. Accomodation is fully booked in what might otherwise be an off-
peak period. Tourists also spend money on food, entertainment, fuel
and shopping. This brings a lot of money to the Noosa area. Noosa
businesses would therefore support a move to legalise a beach in
their area. At present, many Brisbane nudists go to Belongil in NSW
instead because it is legal, is a short walk only to the beach, and
has a carpark and toilet. It is also the same distance from Brisbane
as Alexandria Bay. They spend money on accomodation, food, fuel,
entertainment and shopping in the Byron Bay area and QLD misses out
on this.

Nudism is doing things that you would normally do everyday but without
clothes. This includes swimming and sunbathing on beaches. and feeling safe
while doing it.
It is not having sex in public places or anything like that that is an
immoral act, and is illegal.

Michael