Darwin's tradies slam backpackers for making perv remark

Melbourne, Jun 24 (ANI): After being accused of being pervs, workers at the Darwin Waterfront development have shot back with accusations that topless European backpackers deliberately try to grab their attention.

They say that they are being distracted from their work by the backpackers who favour the Waterfront's new safe swimming beach and recreational lagoon opened in April.

According to them, their progress on the building site has slowed down ever since the public place became a hangout for the scantily clad Europeans.

After British backpacker Penelope Smith, 19, reported that more than a dozen workers stood around and perved on her while she was sunbaking topless, the workers shot back with the attention grabbing answer.

"They ask for it. They come and sit right in front of where the tradies are. They do it topless too - how do they get away with that?" the Northern Territory News quoted a worker as saying.

The worker said that it was a bit rough for the backpackers to complain about being perved on when they were obviously playing up for the crowd.

"They can sunbake anywhere they want but they go right under where all the building is going on," he said.

"They love it, mate ... love it," he added.

Last week Smith said that she was embarrassed by the tradies watching her as she sunbathed.

"When they have a cigarette break, they all stand around and watch," she said.

"My friends say it is a compliment - but I am not the type to play it up. But I did look to see if any of them were cute," she added. (ANI)