A Sydney ban on skimpy swimmers is not new. ‘Bikini wars’ have been raging in Australia for a century

Until the 1900s daylight beach swimming was forbidden and women were expected to wear pants in the water

When Bettine Baker was ordered to leave Bondi beach because of her skimpy swimwear, she couldn’t help but scoff.

“The whole business is so old-fashioned and narrow-minded that it’s not even funny,” the 20-year-old said.

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