Does any one know how the laws apply tobeing nudeat home & in our backyards.
My understanding is that I can benude in the backyardas long as I am not in sight of theneighbours (ie:there is sufficient fencing)- unless they have a two storey building & can see over, then I would have to be clothed.
and do the laws vary state to state??

No difinative answer there unless I start trawling through the criminal code,but thanks for that any way!

the saying is your home is your castle
unless you flaunt your nudity to neighbours ie standing at window or door should be ok

I think English law and Australian law are pretty much the same.
If they can seee you from their garden, and you are seen naked, then you can be considered exposing yourself. If they have to stand on something say to look over your garden to see you naked,then they are peeping toms.

Yes, that was my take on things too!!
Thanks guys!

Cool, I shall do, thanks!

in queenslaand it states unless u have areasable excuse and u need 2 prove it.

summarising all the posts;

if you can't be seen there is no offence, very simple really.

summarising all the posts;

if you can't be seen there is no offence, very simple really.

so that said, what are the laws that govern nudity in each of the Australian States & are some more lenient than others ?

Qld
NSW
ACT
Vic
SA
WA
NT

I live in a hilly part of Mt Gravatt Brisbane, in a 2 story flat  (apartment).  The house next door to me cannot see into my place,but the house 2 doors up can from their rear deck that they built after I had moved in.  They have two young teen daugherts.  My kitchen window has lace cafe curtains and during the day I don't turn on the kitchen light so I hope they cannot see in, but of an evening I have only the light on over the range hood.  So I am trying to minimise my exposure to the outside world

I believe that the laws here in VIC state that you have to have a seven foot fence or sufficient coverage in your yard if you want to be nude in it. I don't think there are any for inside your house.
I have one hole in our treeline in the back that I have to fill up, and I need to get better blinds for our kitchen window then it will be all nude all the time!
just FYI those modern double roller blinds with the tight mesh are excellent for letting in light and keeping out peeping toms!

Hey, guys, it's about time to change the law. Yes we are multicultural and this does subject us to be restricted. Perhaps if all  nudists of Australia stood together, to have a nudist party in government, and why not? There is a Shutters Party, there are religious party's. Why should there not be a naturist Party for expressing our freedom? We need to fight for our rights to be free and acceptable as we are. Perhaps all nudists of Australia need to invade on Capital hill in Canberra to put our point across in a peaceful demonstration. Unless we do so, we always will have to hide from the public eye. Any comments to this, would be greatly appreciated

Apologies for not listing Tasmania. I'm guessing despite your colder climate you have better nudity laws than the mainland states

ciao, j

this link may be of some help 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indecent_exposure#Australia

Regarding nudity laws the State of Victoria, Australia.

I would like to apologise in advance for the length of this post, but this in an important question, and there's a lot of miss-information regarding nudity laws in Australia.  I'm starting with my home State of Victoria, bit I hope to cover the legal situation the other States and Territories in future posts.

Just to clear up a couple of things.

1) It is not an offence to be naked in your backyard, or anywhere else in Victoria, unless you can be seen from a public place (see below).  It does not matter if you can be seen by your neighbours from adjoining private property, unless they are defined as being a public place.

2) There is no legislation regarding views, fence heights, fixed screens or anything else in relation to nudity on ones private property.  Whilst the specifics of fencing and other construction features may be specified by local council as a condition of a building permit, this simply relates to development applications and has nothing to do with being naked in ones backyard.


There are two key pieces of legislation related to nudity in Victoria.  They are:-

     i)  Nudity (Prescribed Areas) Act 1983, and the

     ii ) Summary Offences Act 1966

i) The Nudity (Prescribed Areas) Act 1983, defines the means by which a minister can prescribe, or revoke an area in which nudity is permitted, and a legal exemption for persons naked in these prescribed areas.  Victoria's four legal clothing optional beaches fall under this legislation.

ii) Prosecutions regarding nudity fall under The Summary Offences Act 1966, Section 19, Obscene exposure.  From the Act,

        Obscene exposure:-

        "A person must not wilfully and obscenely expose the genital area of his or her body in, or within the view of, a public place. Penalty: 2 years imprisonment"

The key to this legislation is the definition of a public place, which is defined in section 3 of the Summary Offences Act.  From the Act, the definition of a public place is:-

   (a)  any public highway road street bridge footway footpath court alley
        passage or thoroughfare notwithstanding that it may be formed on
        private property;

   (b)  any park garden reserve or other place of public recreation or resort;

   (c)  any railway station platform or carriage;

   (d)  any wharf pier or jetty;

   (e)  any passenger ship or boat plying for hire;

   (f)  any public vehicle plying for hire;

   (g)  any church or chapel open to the public or any other building where
        divine service is being publicly held;

   (h)  any Government school or the land or premises in connexion therewith;

   (i)  any public hall theatre or room while members of the public are in
        attendance at, or are assembling for or departing from, a public
        entertainment or meeting therein;

   (j)  any market;

   (k)  any auction room or mart or place while a sale by auction is there
        proceeding;

   (l)  any licensed premises or authorised premises within the meaning of the
        Liquor Control Reform Act 1998;

   (m)  any race-course cricket ground football ground or other such place
        while members of the public are present or are permitted to have
        access thereto whether with or without payment for admission;

   (n)  any place of public resort;

   (o)  any open place to which the public whether upon or without payment for
         admittance have or are permitted to have access; or

   (p)  any public place within the meaning of the words "public place" whether by
         virtue of this Act or otherwise;

As you can see from above, being nude, in view from your neighbours
private property, unless they fall within the definition of a public
place above, is not an offence.  I hope this clears up any confusion.

If you have any or queries, or comments, don't hesitate to message me.

Regards
nudie-rudie

References:

Nudity (Prescribed Areas) Act 1983, VIC

The Summary Offences Act 1966, VIC