Exposing your bottom has become a crime in Australian state


Australia, Victoria, Melbourne.
Australia, Victoria, Melbourne.





Are you heading to the Australian state of Victoria any time soon?

If so, and you find yourself playing a particularly crazy game of truth or dare, you might want to keep in mind that the local government has outlawed mooning.

Dance GIF – Find & Share on GIPHY

The, ahem, cheeky (sorry, we couldn't resist) gesture was already an offence punishable under other legislation.

But now there is a specific law that bans exposing your bare bum in public.

So, how long do people face behind bars if caught mooning? For first-time offenders it's up to two months but repeat offenders could face six months behind bars.

The updated legislation ensures pranks involving nudity are separated from acts of sexual exposure.

According to The Summary Offences Act, "behaviour that is indecent, offensive or insulting includes behaviour that involves a person exposing (to any extent) the person's anal or genital region". And "mooning or streaking" is specifically given as an example of such an offence.

FYI, the act also bans other things including singing "an obscene song or ballad" and behaving in a "riotous, indecent, offensive or insulting manner".

Victoria's attorney-general Martin Pakula slapped down suggestions that the law changes show the area is becoming a nanny state.

He tweeted: "It's always been an offence. All we've done is separate indecent exposure (eg mooning) from sexual exposure (eg flashing)."



Advertisement