‘Welcome to Australia!’: Surfers sight stuns
Shocking footage shows a woman's ‘gross’ act outside a Gold Coast kebab shop as council grapples with the ongoing night strip problem.
The Gold Coast ‘glitter strip’ is where all good decisions go to die, and one young partygoer has proven that true.
A woman has been caught on CCTV “popping a squat” out the front of a Surfers Paradise kebab shop – relieving herself on the pavement outside the busy takeaway joint.
She was with a friend when she lifted up her black mini dress, exposing her bare backside as she urinated in public.
And this wasn’t at some ungodly hour – but 8:30pm, when delivery drivers and families were out and about during the dinner rush.
The viral footage was shared on A Current Affair, where the host described the “bold blonde” as “giving her own golden glow to the glitter strip”.
The kebab owner then said the woman in question was “a pretty girl,” so he was shocked she would do such “disgusting behaviour”.
The host then agreed that she clearly had some “bad habits” as it seemed so natural for her to urinate in public.
What’s worse is that after the woman was finished, she used a napkin from the shop as toilet paper and threw it on the floor.
A few minutes later, a family arrived at the kebab shop, and a small child lay on the floor, unintentionally rolling around in the stream of urine, before her dad spotted her and picked her up.
Delivering a stern message to the urinator and other potential offenders, the kebab shop owner ended the segment saying, “Don’t do your business in my business”.
What’s the law?
Despite its relatively trivial nature, urinating in public is a criminal offence in Queensland that, while typically dealt with by a fine (up to $533), can also result in a court appearance, conviction and criminal record.
The law applies more severe penalties if the act takes place in or near a licensed venue, and importantly, evidence such as liquid seen coming from a person’s pelvic area is considered enough to support a charge.
The social media reaction
The comments on social media reflected a broad range of opinions. Many called for stronger consequences, and shamed the news program for blurring the woman’s face.
“People need to be shamed for repulsive behaviour like this,” said one, as someone else wrote, “This isn’t even a laughing matter. This is disgusting and she should be named and shamed as well as penalised”.
Other viewers took issue with how the incident was described, questioning the program’s tone and word choices.
“Notice the wording? Golden glow’ … Bad habit … Bold blondie,” one person pointed out.
Others criticised the supposed “pretty privilege” at play in the coverage and how the reaction might have been harsher if the woman had been a person or colour or an immigrant.
“If it were an immigrant or non white person, the words would have been very different, and the comments would be very harsh,” said one.
However, others took a more lighthearted approach, saying, “Welcome to Australia,” and “This is Aussie women for ya!”
A broader trend?
Public urination has long been an issue in Surfers, as drunk revellers often struggle to find a place to relieve themselves while out clubbing.
According to The Gold Coast Bulletin, the famous strip even has a “telltale smell” to it late at night.
The issue gained international attention a decade ago when the council’s “innovative” solution surprised everyone.
Makeshift urinals were set up on the streets before the busy Christmas period but were quickly criticised by business owners and tourists for ruining the street’s visual appeal.
The area councillor Lex Bell told the outlet that the issue stems from the fact that many nightclub patrons are not familiar with Surfers Paradise and don’t know their way around.
“Even though toilets are nearby, they are unable to find them,” Mr Bell explained.
He said people urinating in shopfronts had become a major issue in the area and urgent action was necessary, and the plastic urinals had been installed “in desperation”.
More Coverage
In the years since, various approaches have been taken to address the issue.
A City of Gold Coast spokesperson told news.com.au, “The City provides six public toilet facilities throughout the area that are open 24 hours every day, and has recently entered a trial arrangement with a private operator whereby toilet facilities in their building near Cavill Mall are also open from 11pm to 5am on weekends and public holidays”.
Extra signage has been put in place to direct people there.
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