Australia scraps ‘tampon tax’

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

When Australia introduced a Goods and Services Tax in 2000, health products such as condoms and sunscreen were exempt from the 10 per cent charge.

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

Since then, the “tampon tax” has drawn widespread fire, branded as “sexist” by campaigners.

A meeting of state and territory treasurers yesterday agreed unanimously to scrap the tax as of January, agreeing to forgo the reported A$30 million (RM86 million) in revenue it raised each year.