Australians are calling for the ban on the sale of soft pornographic magazines in mainstream retail outlets.

The group has asked the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General to review the rules that allow magazines like Playboy and Penthouse to be sold in newsagents, supermarkets and petrol stations.

The group also wants them to review the censorship laws that govern the ratings of ‘lads mags’ like Zoo and Ralph.

Reverend Costello says while pornographic images are available on the internet, making the magazines so widely available is leading to the early sexualisation of children.

“There is a tide of commodifying sexuality, robbing children of innocence, and I think that’s why this letter is important,” he said.

“In many ways what happens on newsstands is communicating a message that this is publicly acceptable.

“Adults, everybody who walks in to just buy their milk or pay for their petrol, buy their paper, is saying this is normal, this is what we now embrace.

“And I think this is particularly devious in the signals it sends to children.”