Intentionally exposing buttocks in public is a crime in Victoria

The Short Answer

Under Section 17(1)(d) of the Summary Offences Act 1966, as amended in 2016, any person who "behaves in a riotous, indecent, offensive or insulting manner" is guilty of an offense. The 2016 amendment specifically clarifies that behavior involving exposing one's anal or genital region—including mooning or streaking—constitutes indecent behavior under this provision.

The Full Story

While mooning and streaking had technically been illegal in Victoria under prior laws, the 2016 amendment to the Summary Offences Act was part of a comprehensive overhaul of sexual offense laws in Victoria. The update served to distinguish between pranks involving nudity (mooning) and acts of sexual exposure, while clearly establishing indecent exposure as a specific criminal offense.

The legislative amendment was designed to provide clarity for law enforcement and the courts about what constitutes indecent behavior. The government wanted to separate minor pranks from more serious sexual exposure crimes. The amendment represents an evolution in how Australian states classify and prosecute such offenses, moving from vague "indecency" language to specific examples and clarifications.

Common Misconceptions

This is covered under Section 17 (obscene behaviour), not Section 19 (sexual exposure). Section 19 only covers genital exposure. Mooning is explicitly cited as an example in Section 17(1A), which specifically references the "anal or genital region," making buttocks exposure a clear offence.

Actual Legal Text

Section 17(1)(d) of the Summary Offences Act 1966 (Vic) prohibits behaving in an "indecent offensive or insulting manner" in or near a public place. Section 17(1A) clarifies: "For the purposes of subsection (1)(d), behaviour that is indecent offensive or insulting includes behaviour that involves a person exposing (to any extent) the person's anal or genital region." The legislation provides "mooning or streaking" as an explicit example.

Current Status

Actively Enforced

Penalty

First offense: Up to 2 months imprisonment or 10 penalty units. Second offense: Up to 3 months imprisonment or 15 penalty units. Third or subsequent offense: Up to 6 months imprisonment or 25 penalty units. (Penalty unit values are indexed annually; as of 2025, approximately A$184.92 per unit)

Imprisonment: 180 days