Airing risque sexual material good for people

An Aussie sexual health physician has credited the producers of the show ''Packed to the Rafters'' for bringing sex into the mainstream by airing risque sexual material on TV.

''Packed to the Rafters'' came under fire after an episode containing raunchy fantasy sequences and a masturbation scene was aired on Tuesday.

Dr. Christine Read, however, has applauded the producers by saying that Australians are not as sexually savvy as they think, and are at the risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

She claimed that shows like ''The 7pm Project'' (Network Ten) and ''Packed to the Rafters'' (Seven Network) were "pushing the boundaries."

She said that the Australian public were quite sensitive to the topic while politicians also found the issue difficult.

"There are so many myths around sex and sexuality and how you can or cannot get pregnant even in this day and age. So shows that get people talking about sex are really important," News.com.au quoted Read as telling AAP.

Earlier this week, the blog site of ''Packed to the Rafters'' attracted angry posts from viewers.

However, Read, who is also a spokesperson for Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia, said that it is important for families to talk about sex.

Better sexual education programs in schools were also needed because the current system was ad hoc, she said.