Sex Party on Its Way to Australia Ballot

The Electoral Commission maintains the official register of political parties that can be acknowledged on ballots.

"We picked up another few hundred members in Western Australia [during Sexpo] and we are now in the fundraising period," Sex Party organizer Fiona Patten told XBIZ in an email. "The adult industry and its supporters will now have a party to vote for that genuinely reflects their philosophies on sex, love and gender. We are getting micro donations from members of the public, which is great, and a number of adult businesses have pledged support."

The next step in the process is for the Electoral Commission to publish informational advertisements in major newspapers asking for public comment, which happened on June 17. The public comment period is four weeks.

"We already think that we have had some impact on government policy," Patten said. "The government has changed their policy on aid for overseas health organizations that provide advice for or abortion services and are now weakening on their mandatory Internet filter policy."

Patten said that the party is starting to send out campaign material through adult stores throughout Australia and some online businesses. "We believe that we can access nearly 25 percent of the adult population through these avenues."

Current party membership is "nearly 2,000" according to Patten, who projects a membership of 10,000 by the end of 2009. The population of Australia was estimated at 21 million as of July 2008 and there are currently 26 political parties registered with the Australian Electoral Commission.