Porn sites should be legally banished to the new .xxx domain to make the web safer for children, Family First has urged.

Triple-X domain names went on sale for the first time last week, allowing adult businesses to register their trademark under an official adult domain.

Dennis Hood, Family First’s leader in South Australia, told news.com.au there was no good reason why adult businesses should continue to operate under a .com address.

“Family First strongly believe the government should legislate to require all adult internet sites to move over to a .xxx domain so that children will be able to be safe online,” he said.

“If they’re as serious about child safety online as they claim then this must be done without delay.”

A spokesperson for Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said X18+ content was already banned and could not be hosted on Australian-based websites.

“The Government could not legislate to force overseas content to move to a .xxx domain,” the spokesperson said.

“Further, the Australian Government has actively opposed .xxx because .xxx would not assist the community in avoiding adult content.

“It is likely that adult sites would simply be replicated on .xxx rather than replacing existing sites.”

News.com.au yesterday easily found sites selling X-rated videos, adult services and portals to pornography hosted on Australian .com.au domains, despite government assurances.

Australian Sex Party Convenor Fiona Patten told news.com.au the ICM Registry – which distributes .xxx domains, must “be rubbing their hands together hearing what politicians are saying”.

The x-rated domain would be an easy way for the Federal Government to censor adult content online, she said.

“A .kids domain would be much more appropriate,” she said.

“I use the analogy of the playground - rather than trying to put child-proof centres on every corner, we put a fence around the playground and let them play in there,” Ms Patten said.

Source: Herald Sun