Australia's Sex Party
picked an appropriate venue for its launch Thursday: a Melbourne sex-toy
emporium where vendors promised something for absolutely everyone, dpa reported.
"Community attitudes to sex and censorship have been shown over and over
again by community opinion polling to be more relaxed than ever, and yet in
politics the opposite is the case," party leader Fiona Patten said.
"When was the last time you heard a politician say something positive
about sex?"
The former fashion designer said that campaigning against censorship and
lobbying in favour of gay marriage and adoption would be major planks in the
party platform.
"I doubt we can be all things to all people," the former head of sex
industry lobby group the Eros Foundation conceded.
An immediate target is draft legislation that would force internet service
providers to block access to pornographic websites.
Party member and sex industry luminary John Newton said that the laws would
slow the internet and infringe on free speech.
"The only countries with similar laws are Iran and North Korea," he said.
Patten founded Eros in 1992.
"I certainly did get some experience working as a sex worker in the
industry," she told national broadcaster ABC. "I mean, I've always
been interested in sex, I think, all my life. And I thank my parents for
that."