THE uniquely named Australian Sex Party has applied to the Australian Electoral Commission to be registered as a party and receive a chunk of election funding, generously supplied by the taxpayer, the occasion providing an irresistible opportunity for wordsmiths.

It could be the first time that "election" and that other word with an "r" go hand-in-hand, so to speak. The party, convened by eroto-political campaigner Fiona Patten, notes on its website: "Our members' needs always come first." Boom-boom. The party's "secret political and spiritual adviser" is a Dick Tracy lookalike called Curly Merkin and for those unfamiliar with the surname, consult a dictionary.