Pledge for free tampons, pads in schools
PREMIER Daniel Andrews wants other states and institutions to follow his lead in giving women and girls free access to free sanitary items.
In a national first, the Labor Government yesterday announced it would put pads and tampons in all government school female, unisex and accessible bathrooms if re-elected on November 24.
“I’m proud to make this commitment, absolutely proud, because I don’t want girls and women to go through what can often be very embarrassing and very challenging for them,” Mr Andrews said.
“Hopefully other states and other institutions like universities and others can catch up too.”
Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the education department would work with schools to determine the best way to dispense the sanitary items from term three next year.
“We know that students who do not have access to sanitary products often cannot concentrate in class, may not feel comfortable doing physical activity, or may miss school altogether,” she said.
“It can create unnecessary stress for students trying to navigate finding a tampon or pad, and that may delay regularly changing them, placing them at greater risk of toxic shock or cervical cancer.”
It came as the Labor red bus rolled into western Victoria for the third day in a row.
Mr Andrews was in Ararat, in the seat of Ripon, held by the Coalition with a wafer thin 0.8 per cent margin to announce a $100 million boost to a regional health care fund.
On Tuesday and Wednes- day Mr Andrews was in nearby Ballarat, where local Labor MPs Sharon Knight and Geoff Howard are retiring from the seats of Wendouree and Buninyong, respectively.
But the Premier said it was his love for western Victoria that brought the campaign there.
“I love this part of Victoria, I love all of Victoria’s communities,” he said. “This is a very special part of our state and investment like the ones we made today could make a big difference to ensure that patients get the care they need.” ANDREW Katos has slammed political rival Darren Cheeseman, accusing the Labor candidate of ignoring key sections of the South Barwon electorate.
Mr Katos this week went on the offensive over new Labor planning changes that could see a controversial aged care facility in Highton become larger than initially proposed.
In light of opposition to the proposal from local residents, Mr Katos accused Mr Cheeseman of showing little interest in the issue, while saying he was only focused on develop- ment concerns in Torquay.
“It’s hypocrisy … He has a complete disregard for other parts of the electorate,” Mr Katos said.
“I’m a member of parliament and I look out for the whole of the electorate. I don’t worry about just the swing parts.”
The accusation has sparked a war of words between the pair, who are in the middle of a tight contest in the marginal seat.
Mr Cheeseman said: “This is just desperate from Andrew Katos, who is in the pockets of developers — just like Matthew Guy.”
At the centre of the dispute is an application from Japara Healthcare to build a $25 million aged care facility on Roslyn Rd, 700m west of the