Australia scraps ‘tampon tax’ ending debate

SYDNEY: After almost two decades of political wrangling Australia finally agreed to scrap its so-called “tampon tax”.

When Australia introduced a Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2000, health products such as condoms and sunscreen were exempt from the 10% charge, along with most foods.

But tampons and other women’s hygiene products were not.

Since then, the “tampon tax” has drawn widespread fire, branded as “sexist” by campaigners, and a regular source of bickering between Canberra, and state and territory governments, which receive revenues from the GST.

Australia’s health minister in 2000 Michael Wooldridge set a dark trajectory for the tax when he suggested tampons should not be exempt as they did not “prevent illness”.

Years of outcry followed, with “stop taxing my period!” campaigns and staunch activism from groups like the “menstrual avengers”.

Leaders on both sides of politics flirted with the exemption, while others shied away, passing the buck onto state and territory governments.

But yesterday a meeting of state and territory treasurers agreed unanimously to scrap the tax as of January, agreeing to forgo the reported A$30mil (RM88.8mil) in revenue it raised each year.

“There has been a long and tortured history on GST when it comes to tampons and feminine hygiene products,” the federal minister for women, Kelly O’Dwyer, said.

“I’m very happy to report that today we have been successful, the states and territories have come on board, and millions of Australian women will benefit as a result.” — AFP