New sexting laws are due to be introduced in Victorian Parliament today, making it illegal for people to share explicit images without consent.

Under the legislation, people under the age of 18 who sext each other would no longer be found guilty of child pornography offences or put on the sex offender register.

But adults who send or threaten to distribute intimate images without the consent of the other person would face charges.

Attorney-General Robert Clark said the new laws would protect people from exploitation.

sexting /ˈsɛkstɪŋ/ (say 'seksting) (noun, Colloquial) the receiving or sending of a sexually explicit photograph or video clip on a mobile phone. - Macquarie Dictionary

"We're all familiar with the sorts of instances where someone's photographed in the shower or in some other intimate position and then that image is distributed widely without their consent," Mr Clark said.

"It can cause huge embarrassment and humiliation to the victim and it's important the law makes it clear that's unacceptable."

Penalties should be aligned to the harm done: expert

Victoria's previous legislation condsidered sexting as child pornography when persons under the age of 18 were shown.

If convicted, it was mandatory to put the person on the sex offenders' register, without judicial discretion.

Mr Clark said the new bill would ensure that "anyone under 18 years of age who creates, possesses or distributes an intimate image or sext of themselves or of another minor who is less than two years younger than them will not be guilty of a child pornography offence".

"However if the image depicts a criminal offence, such as a sexual assault, the exceptions will not apply." he said.

Cyber safety expert and former police officer Susan McLean said the new legislation would eliminate the risk of young people wrongly ending up on the sex offenders' register.

"The problem was it was written to protect society and children from the traditional paedophile-type person," said Ms McLean.

"We don't want judicial discretion when we're dealing with paedophiles but we do need it when we're dealing with children."

In 2012, Tasmania Police told the inquiry that current legislation in that state was not "an appropriate tool for managing young people who are involved in consensual sexting".

"In situations where children take pictures of themselves, pictures of other children, or forward pictures to others, Tasmania Police advocate that these matters should be dealt with by parents or social workers," Tasmania Police said in a submission to the inquiry.

Earlier this year, South Australia called for a national legislative approach to distinguish young people's behaviour from predatory sexual behaviour.

Ms McLean welcomed the changes and said she hoped other states would take on similar legislation.

"It's certainly putting Victoria in the forefront of dealing with these sorts of issues," Ms McLean said.

"It's not about making it open slather for young people to share naked images, which can have catastrophic consequences.

"It's about making sure that when this happens the results and penalties are aligned to the harm that's done."