Controversial arts figure Jorian Gardner is set to take on a formal role in territory politics, as the incoming director of the Australian Sex Party in Canberra.
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Mr Gardner will announce the move on Tuesday, leading the party's political committee with veteran campaigner and Sex Party federal president Fiona Patten, election coordinator Steven Bailey, branch secretary Deborah Avery and communications manager Robbie Swan.
Never far from the headlines, the 41-year-old will also consider standing as a candidate at the next ACT election, set to elect members to the expanded 25-seat Legislative Assembly.
The party is in the process of registering with the ACT Electoral Commission and expects to run a full ticket of candidates at the October 2016 poll.
Mr Bailey, a former candidate for the fringe Katter's Australian Party, is already confirmed to stand for election in the city's north.
Electoral boundaries for the ninth territory Assembly are yet to be finalised but Mr Gardner said a credible campaign for the five member, five electorate vote should begin now.
"The Australian Sex Party Canberra want the people of the ACT to have a clear discussion about our policies well in advance and to work with the community to create new Canberra-specific policies that fit with our general party policy platform," he said.
"We will not be simply popping our heads up a few weeks before an election seeking the peoples' vote. I think that Canberrans deserve better than that. Our city deserves a greater evaluation of what our future will be to 2020 and beyond."
The former 2CC and Win News journalist is still considering making a pitch to coordinate the 2015 National Multicultural Festival fringe event.
His 2014 tenure as artistic director ended in political and artistic recriminations after it included a performance by a female burlesque dancer dressed as Adolf Hitler, dancing to the pop song Gangnam Style.
Arts Minister Joy Burch this month called for expressions of interest in the role.
"Our city is a vibrant, smart, forward-thinking community and I don’t think our political parties have moved with the times to reflect changing community views," Mr Gardner said.
The Australian Sex Party, which has as many as 5000 members nationally, will seek to raise issues of gender equality and same-sex marriage, drug law reform, affordable public transport including light rail and legalised euthanasia.
Policies will include the protection of personal and sexual freedom and promotion of a national sex education curriculum and national abortion laws.
Mr Gardner said the ACT Labor government and Liberal opposition had chosen the 5-5 electoral system to shore up their own chances.
He said myriad minor parties would flood the 2016 ballot.
"As party director I will be focussed on ensuring that we have a team of people that reflect a wide-range of community views to stand for us at a local and federal level.
"[I will] help develop and communicate our views and events to the public along with our growing team, organise fund raising and drive party membership activities and support our federal president Fiona Patten," Mr Gardner said.
Candidate nominations for the next ACT election close on September 21, 2016.
