Sydney - Australia's Sex Party picked an appropriate venue for its launch Thursday: a Melbourne sex-toy emporium where vendors promised something for absolutely everyone. "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 have always been interested in sex, I think, all my life. And I thank my parents for that."
