Rafy
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- 2008
MPs want topless, nude bathing banned on NSW beaches
TOPLESS bathing would be banned on mainstream beaches in NSW under a conservative push to reclaim the sand.
With women increasingly going au natural, conservative powerbrokers from all sides of State Parliament yesterday supported a ban on topless bathing.
Local councils currently don't fine or prohibit topless bathers as they do not regard bare breasts as nudity.
Liberal powerbroker David Clarke and Labor MP Paul Gibson yesterday vowed to support a Bill by Reverend Fred Nile that would ban nudity at popular beaches like Bondi, Manly and Coogee. Support from both sides of Parliament increases the Bill's chance if it goes to a conscience vote.
"The law should be clear. It must say: 'Exposure of women's breasts on beaches will be prohibited'," Rev Nile said yesterday.
Councils have the power to fine people for bathing nude, but Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said yesterday topless was not nude: "Nude is when you've got no clothes on."
Police can fine people for indecent exposure if they get naked in public.
Labor MP Paul Gibson said topless women made people feel uncomfortable.
"If you're on the beach do you want somebody with big knockers next to you when you're there with the kids," he said.
English tourists Lisa Clarke and Laura Dawson, both 32, have sunbaked topless on almost every continent and along most of Australia's east coast. They were at Coogee Beach yesterday.
Ms Clarke said no one ever seemed to take any notice: "I don't see what the big deal is."