12:00a.m. 8 May 2008

| By Jane Gardner

Mayor Bob Abbot has corrected claims that he would support an official nudist beach on the Sunshine Coast.

He said while he had no problem with the nudists’ cause, he would not fight any battles for them.

The comments yesterday were in response to a national media report implying he was all for the bid for the Sunshine Coast to become home to Queensland’s first legal nudist beach.

“I don’t have an issue with clothes-optional beaches at all but I’m certainly not the champion of this cause and don’t intend to be,” Me Abbot said.

An application from Freebeach Australia is before council, but Mr Abbot has not viewed it yet.

“It would require public consultation,’’ he said.

“I’m not willing to commit myself or this council to anything until such time as we do that.”

Mr Abbot said he had no issue with the use of Alexandria Bay as an unofficial nude beach, but he had no opinion regarding the establishment of a legal nudist beach at Coolum, Mudjimba or Marcus Downs.

Premier Anna Bligh said the state would consider the application if council endorsed it.

“If a safe and accessible location was put forward away from everyday beach goers ... the government would consider it,” she said.

Related stories:

> A nude beach for the Coast?

> Artist in the frame

> We want our own official beach: nudists

> Nude Ken scores a win in court

> Sunshine Coast nudist takes battle to court

> Magistrate draws line in sand over nude bathing

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