The next stage: taking your support to Australia's elected representatives
More than 18 months after this campaign began, the Australian Public Decency and Nudity Clarification proposal is moving into its next stage.
With 5,516 verified signatures at our latest recorded campaign snapshot, NRE is preparing to formally approach Australian state, territory and Commonwealth parliamentarians seeking support for examination of clearer and more proportionate laws.
The purpose for which this petition was created has not changed.
We continue to seek clearer Australian laws distinguishing simple non-sexual nudity from sexual, lewd, harassing, threatening, voyeuristic or otherwise harmful conduct.
What has changed is the depth of the work supporting that objective.
Before approaching elected representatives, NRE undertook further legal, constitutional, policy and evidence review. The proposal has consequently been developed into a comprehensive Australian Public Decency and Nudity Clarification Framework.
The Framework now more clearly recognises Australia's federal system. Most of the substantive public-order and decency laws involved are matters for states and territories. The Commonwealth is therefore being asked to provide national leadership and support cooperative examination within its constitutional responsibilities, rather than being asked to override state laws.
The Framework also strengthens:
child safeguarding and preservation of sexual-offence laws;
conduct-based enforcement;
privacy and recording protections;
mechanisms for appropriately managed clothing-optional areas;
controlled Australian pilot programs;
environmental and Traditional Owner considerations;
health and wellbeing evidence, with its limitations clearly identified;
regional, rural and outback recreation and tourism opportunities;
economic evaluation rather than unsupported forecasts;
Australian legislative precedents;
international operational precedents; and
independent monitoring and evaluation.
Importantly, this proposal does not seek unrestricted public nudity.
It does not seek to weaken laws concerning sexual offending, children, harassment, stalking, intimidation, voyeurism, assault or other harmful conduct.
The principle remains straightforward:
A body is not a behaviour.
Being unclothed is not the same thing as engaging in sexual or harmful conduct.
Where harmful conduct occurs, the appropriate law should apply. Where the relevant fact is simple non-sexual nudity without independently unlawful conduct, Australian law should be capable of recognising that distinction.
NRE has also prepared a substantial Supporting Annex Package containing the jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction legal analysis, model legislative options, safeguarding framework, public-land pathways, pilot methodology, health and wellbeing evidence, regional economic analysis, international precedents and evidence register.
The complete Framework and Supporting Annex Package are available here:
www.naturismre.com/nre-decency-public-nudity-full-framework
NRE will also shortly launch a new Australian public-awareness campaign.
The campaign will help Australians better understand the current differences and uncertainties surrounding nudity laws across Australian jurisdictions, why simple non-sexual nudity and harmful conduct should be clearly distinguished, and why clearer legislation matters.
The purpose will not be to tell Australians what they should think about nudity. It will be to encourage people to look at the law, understand the distinction, ask questions and decide whether they support clearer and more proportionate legislation.
The campaign will also encourage Australians who support the reform objective to add their voice to the petition while parliamentary engagement is underway.
This means the next phase will proceed on two fronts: formal engagement with elected representatives and public education about why legal clarity matters.
The next step is to begin approaching Australia's elected representatives and asking them to move this issue from public discussion to formal examination.
The petition remains open, and additional signatures will strengthen that request as parliamentary outreach proceeds.
Thank you to everyone who has supported clearer, more consistent and more proportionate Australian law.
Clarify the law.
Preserve the safeguards.
Regulate harmful conduct according to what people actually do.