Vote 1: Sex

Local News, By Joal, 18th November, 2008

Australian politics got a little sexier with yesterday’s announced launch of the Australian Sex Party.

We’ve all witnessed the recent rise of religious and conservative voices in parliament, and Fiona Patten, spokesperson for the new party, says they’re “serious about sex” and aim to provide an alternative political viewpoint.

With hopes to launch on Friday, the party has secured 500 signatures and registration with the Australian Electoral Commission.

Campaigning on issues such as censorship, the Federal Government’s proposed internet filter, health benefits for sex workers, gay marriage and paid maternity leave, Patten says the Australian Sex Party hopes to secure at least one Senate seat in the next federal election in 2010.

“We are concerned about [Family First Senator] Steve Fielding’s power in the Senate – his conservative morals-based position in the Senate threatens the existence of our [sex] industry,” says spokesperson Patten.

“An internet filter will put our legal business out of business. We don’t think it is the right way to address child pornography.”

Although the party says it will rely on funding from the sex industry groups and businesses, they hope to appeal to a wide range of Australians concerned about freedom and civil liberties. The party would also look to overturn rules under which certain health clinics were denied overseas aid because they were pro-choice.

“We’re concerned that religious groups are having an increasing influence on the national debate. Basically, should what happens in your bedroom be decided by minority religious lobby groups? Plenty of Aussie voters want to be treated like adults and a new political force will launched this week with our party,” Patten told the Herald Sun.

And what would the party’s alternative to ‘protecting’ us all from sexual ‘evils’ be? Actually talking about sex says Patten, “there’s so much concern about the sexualisation of children, children being exposed to material. I would have thought our first action would be education.”

The Australian Sex Party will officially be launched at Melbourne Sexpo on Thursday, and we’ll all be watching the next federal election – hoping it’s a tad more interesting, and maybe a little sexy.