'We're serious about sex' is the slogan adopted by the Australian Sex Party which was launched in Melbourne in November 2008 and which in 2009 has sought formal registration as a political party with the Australian Electoral Commission.
The Origins of the Australian Sex Party
The genesis of the ostensibly single-issue party, which was convened by Fiona Patten (also chief executive of the Eros Association an organization that represents the adult retail and entertainment industry) was to oppose the Australian government’s plans to keep undesirable internet content out of the country by means of a filter.
The Australian Sex Party's Policies
The party’s leaders have developed a range of policies addressing the broad area of sex, including a national curriculum for sex education, a call for Viagra, Cialis and other drugs used to treat sexual dysfunciton to be included in the Australian Medicare system of susbidised medicines, and the adoption of equal rights in all areas of the law for gay, lesbian and transexual couples. .
Like many other parties which have begin life as single issue political parties, the Australian Sex Party has broadened the scope of its policies to take in cover areas other than internet censorship. These policies cover a range of areas and include demands for:
- The adoption of laws making it illegal to discriminate against people or companies on the basis of job, occupation, profession or calling
- The adoption of laws making it illegal to discriminate against people or companies on the basis of job, occupation, profession or calling
- A referendum making it mandatory for there to be equal numbers of women in the Australian Senate and State Upper Houses.
- Reform of the Australian abortion laws to allow for ‘legal, no-fault and guilt-free processes for women seeking termination’
- The introduction of paid maternity leave that is ‘fair and equitable for small businesses’.
The Australian Sex Party's Prospects As A Small, Single Issue Political Party
Small and single issue political parties usually find it easier to break through and gain representation in proportional voting systems. This has been the experience of Green Parties across the world with first breakthroughs being made by the German Green Party in a country which uses proportional representation tin elections and with parties like the UK Green Party still waiting to win a single seat in the UK parliament which is elected by the first-past-the post system.
Despite Australia’s proportional system and the shock value of its name, the Australian Sex Party is unlikely to either make an early breakthrough or build up to success over a longer period. Electors are Phighly likely to interpret the party’s launch as primarily a part of an industrial lobby group’s political activities and are unlikely to use their votes to support it, particularly as economic rather than social issues are likely to be at the forefront of voters minds at forthcoming elections around the world.
The Australian Sex Party's Likely Impact on the 2010 Australian General Election
That said, the Australian Sex Party seems guaranteed to introduce a degree controversy to the next Australian election and may well make the mainstream parties re-examine their policies in the area of sex, sex education and sexual discrimination which is, after all, the principal aim of the party’s founders.
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