Should European-style bars and clubs be allowed to be set up on Queensland beaches?

The debate about whether it is un-Australian to section off parts of our beaches for the select few has been raging recently in South East Queensland, with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate saying his region would probably have one by next summer, and Premier David Crisafulli even backing his push.

During an interview on stage at a recent luncheon about the future of the Gold Coast, Premier Crisafulli said the city would be “poorer for not having” beach bars, as long as they were not set aside only for the rich and famous.

Mayor Tate has been more outspoken and controversial, saying a permanent beach bar was on the way, and those “pale-faced” people who opposed the move were “from the mountains” and should stay there.

There are already beach bars in other parts of Australia - St Kilda in Melbourne has Beachcombers, and Glenelg in Adelaide has the Moseley Beach Club.

And anyone who has holidayed in southern Europe, Bali, Vietnam or Thailand can attest to the great atmosphere of sipping cocktails on plush couches while watching the sun go down, but many balk at the thought of possibly having to pay to go to the beach.

The debate has been taking up media-column space in the south of the state, with one regular scribe, Frances Whiting, vehemently opposed to the idea.

“We have to resist this,” Whiting said. 

“We have to keep our beaches free of any sort of monetisation - and make no mistake - this is all about someone, somewhere making money.”