The comparison between smoking and sex. Gee lets see. One is the practice of inhaling toxic chemicals released from burning tobacco inhaled through the delicate lung membrane to enter the bloodstream It is addictive, unhealthy, dangerous and cancerous and without being to judgemental... disgusting. Smokers look, feel and smell bad. That is not morals its just science.

Sexual drive on the other hand is a natural response to ingrained instincts to procreate the species. Its healthy, it feels good, it is emotionally fullfilling and properly done, pain free. Yes there are risks, so you should be aware of them. Simple. Its called sex education.

Amongst developed nations, sex education is most prevalent in Northern European societies that have correspondingly lower rates of STD tranmission and teenage pregnancy. Sex Education is least prevalent in the southern states of the U.S. which have a correspondingly higher rate of STD tranmnsmission and teenage pregnancy. (Leaving out for now the problems of the third world and the guilt of the catholic church.)

What am I missing here? No fool like an old fool.

Maybe we should teach kids the art of mastubation?

I know what I would have said to Mr. Harradine about abstinance when I was 16!

Perhaps memories of his youthful yearnings have been lost in the mists of time.

Surely hundreds of years of over-packed orphanages, teenage girls who 'went to visit Aunty' for a few months - or worse died at the hands of a backyard butcher/abortionist - prove just as vociferously that abstinence did not actually work all that well either before sex-ed came in, whether 'best-practice' or not.

Having taught in (Catholic) secondary schools I know that whatever message teens hear from parents or teachers, whether abstinence or safer-sex, it oftens matters little when too much grog, a bit of dope, raging hormones and the indestructability of youth combine with opportunity and a willing partner

We have to be careful because many religions in the past have used sexual abstinence as a tool of power over people.The result was institutionalised paedophilia and many with screwed up sexuality.Your sexuality is not owned by any organisation.So long as we don't hurt others,it is no ones business.

Having read this article I was very angry. Having read the comments I’m not, thank you everyone.
Thank goodness that senator Harradine will be Mr Harradine very soon.