Blaming women who take intimate pictures of themselves is akin to telling a rape victim to avoid wearing short skirts.
That's how a federal Labor MP is describing the 21st century scourge of revenge porn - when people disseminate sexual images of others, usually former partners, without their consent.
Tim Watts on Monday introduced a private member's bill to penalise the sharing of such images or videos.
It would also be an offence to even threaten to share or make money from publishing sexual images of others.
The penalty? Three years in jail.
"We believe that this reflects the seriousness of the crime," Mr Watts told the lower house.
The Labor backbencher is concerned some women are being coerced into staying in abusive relationships with the threat of intimate images of them being shared to family, friends or work colleagues.
It's enough to cause them significant mental or social harm.
"Revenge porn is the most extreme example of how some men are using new technologies to exercise power and control over the women in their lives," he said.
Mr Watts gave numerous examples of how women across the country have been targeted by such abuse, which he believes should be considered sexual assault.
A Victorian woman was drugged and filmed engaging in sexual acts while unconscious but chose not to seek help from safe haven services because of the shame and humiliation she felt.
A Muslim woman sought help from domestic violence services after photos of her in a bra without her hijab were shared on the perpetrator's Facebook account for her children and family to see.
The pictures led the woman and her family to feel shame and humiliation.
Such cultural sensitivities will be taken into account under the legislation in determining whether an offence has been committed.
Mr Watts said while there may be a temptation to blame women for taking pictures of themselves in the first place, victim-blaming was wrong.
"It's the same as telling a woman who was raped that she was asking for it when she decided to wear a short skirt, or go out at night.
"Telling women that they should lock themselves up and cover up their bodies to avoid getting raped is wrong."
