Australia- Amid adult toys and pole dancers, the sex industry has launched its own political movement promising to push for cheaper access to Viagra and other drugs used to treat sexual dysfunction.
The Australian Sex Party says it is serious about sex and about politics, aiming to win at least one Senate seat in each state, while also targeting Upper House state seats.
The party was officially launched at the Sexpo exhibition in Melbourne on Thursday, with convenor Fiona Patten [pictured] vowing it would rage against the rise of conservatism in Australia.
“There is a new conservatism creeping up in Australia – we’re becoming a nanny state where politicians can’t talk about sex without giggling or saying something negative,” Ms Patten said.
She said the party needed about 300,000 votes to win seats in Victoria, NSW and Queensland and a little less in the other states.
“I think there are enough free-minded thinking individuals for us to win seats,” she said.
The party will fight to have Viagra, Cialis and other drugs used to treat sexual dysfunction listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and will push for global approaches to tackle child pornography.
It also hopes to end plans for a national internet filter, proposed by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.
Ms Patten said the proposal to block up to 10,000 unwanted sites could cost 16,000 adult industry jobs.
“If they go ahead with what they propose, we’ll wipe out the adult industry in the next five years,” she warned.
“There is today greater censorship on the internet, television, books and the school curriculum.
“We want to protect children but it doesn’t mean we all have to become G-rated.”
She said the party already has 500 signed-up members.
“We’re serious about sex and we’re serious about the Sex Party,” she said.
She said more Australians would be heading to adult shops for cheap entertainment as the economic downturn worsened.
“Some adult shops are saying business has never been better,” said Ms Patten, who is also chief executive of the Eros Foundation, Australia’s national adult industry association.
“We’re a cheap luxury that can make you feel good.”