The federal government says it is not convinced of the need for a new Internet address for adult content.

A Canadian-based body, the International Foundation for Online Responsibility (IFFOR), is seeking to register a new Internet domain using the extension .xxx.

IFFOR today told an internet conference in Wellington, New Zealand, the .xxx domain would clearly convey that the site contains adult material of a sexual nature and would stop the spread of adult content to other domains such as .com and .org.

The proceeds of the new domain could be used to fund new Internet filter technology and child protection initiatives, IFFOR said.

But Communications Minister Helen Coonan said she had serious concerns about the proposal.

"This government takes a strong stand on internet pornography and we would not support any measure which could lead to an increase in offensive content on the Internet," Senator Coonan said.

"The Australian government would be concerned by the creation of an Internet domain specifically for material which is largely illegal under Australian online content laws."

Senator Coonan said she found it hard to believe offensive Web sites would voluntarily move to the new domain.

"I am yet to be convinced that there are any real benefits from the creation of this domain that would outweigh the risk of legitimising this offensive material," she said.

She said the government had asked the global body in charge of domains, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), to delay its decision on .xxx until it has provided better evidence of its benefits.

The minister said she would not rule out opposing the domain altogether if enough evidence could not be produced.