Women in Australia pay a 10 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on tampons because they are defined as a luxury, not a necessity. Now, one student is doing something about it and demanding change.
Tampons and pads have been classified as a luxury, as opposed to other health products including sunscreen, incontinence pads, condoms and nicotine patches, which have been made exempt from the tax.
Once student Subeta Vimalarajah found out that she was paying more for her tampons and pads than she should be because of blatant sexism, she decided to take some serious action.
So she started a petition directly targeted at Joe Hockey, demanding that the tampon tax be removed in the upcoming review of the GST.
Her page informs potential petition signees that since 2000, the Australian Government has taxed every menstruating Australian 10 per cent every time they get their period. “It is estimated that our periods earn the government a whopping $25 million each year,” she writes.
“And how can a bodily function be taxed? Because the government doesn’t consider the tampons and pads we’re forced to buy every few weeks ‘necessary’ enough to be GST-free.”
Vimalarajah adds: “People who get periods don’t buy pads and tampons for pleasure, so why are we forced to fork out an extra 10 per cent every two, three, four weeks? Taxing Australians for getting their period isn’t just sexist, it’s fundamentally unfair!”
Vimalarajah is pleading with Joe Hockey to reconsider the classification of tampons and pads as part of the Australian government’s review of the tax system.
“Right now, the Australian government is reviewing the entire Australian tax system, saying that it’s looking to make taxes lower, simpler and fairer. This review is a once in a generation opportunity to put the tampon tax on the government agenda for serious consideration, and get this unfair tax removed once and for all.”
Already, the petition boasts over 35,000 signatures, and some of the comments on the petition have been both telling and hilarious, including “I bleed and I vote.” Another points out that “Periods are not a lifestyle choice.”
It should be noted that it’s not just women who are supporting this petition. “As a guy, I’m appalled by the expense of a basic requirement,” wrote one concerned gentleman.
The campaign is going viral, with the hashtag #bloodyoutrage trending on Twitter at the moment, as more and more people get behind this movement and call for change.
Vimalarajah ends the petition by asking for your help to send the government a very clear message.
“A period is not a luxury or societal burden, it is an aspect of reproductive health. After all, the government should support and facilitate the availability of sanitary products, not actively restrict it.”
If you want to sign and show your support, you can sign the Stop Taxing My Period petition.
Please note that by signing the petition, you will begin receiving campaign emails from CommunityRun and GetUp Australia. bmag is not affiliated with either of these organisations and does not endorse them; we simply believe this particular issue is worth highlighting.
An absolute disgrace!!
What rubbish!
Not discrimination at all.
We all pay taxes that are specific to our roles or conditions.
Should we remove taxes on all items sold to the public which not EVERYBODY needs, like tyres, text books, air travel, bull dozers, pool noodles, hair driers and chess sets?
And lots of them are things we have no choice about, eg, spectacles, crutches, remedial therapy, special needs turoring.
Sure, the Govt could lift it if it wanted to be generous, but don’t call it discrimination.
Of course it’s discrimination! No GST on sunscreen, condoms, etc?
The wider issue is broadening of the GST to include more items. Until then, this impost is clearly indefensible.
There’s no male equivalent to a period. Aren’t they lucky; they’ve all the ‘fun’ in reproduction but none of the ‘yucky priors’ or ‘posts’ to pregnancy, either!
IF men got ‘periods’, there’d be not only NO tax on sanitary products, there’d be Free Clinics’ everywhere, & pads & tampons would be FREE!
What else would you call it, why are condoms not taxed, are they used by everybody – I don’t thing so.
I think woman have been paying way too much for everything, from Hair to cosmetics,as well as personal needs, Ever since GST came we pick up the slack for all.It’s about time we where given a break.when you get older it gets worse,especially when it comes to personal needs.Come on Guys,man up and pay your share,To the pollies do the wright thing and give us a break.A BIG ONE.
Mike you’re an idiot…sorry but you are. Do You really think tampons aren’t a necessity!? OK women will just bleed everywhere, down their legs and so on.
The things you listed aren’t necessities anyway.
You don’t hear men complaining about GST on razor blades.
Jason you have a choice to shave or not, we do not have a choice, tampons and pads is not a luxury, never was and never will be
Jason, you don’t think women use razor blades too?
Mike, tampons and pads are a NECESSITY for half the population. Do you honestly think that we buy tampons and pads for pleasure? Tampons and pads are not a luxury, they are a necessity. They are a sanitary item and without them, serious health problems can be caused. Think of homeless people who have to sit in piles of their own blood all day!!
I don’t think there should be a tax on tampons but why do some women need to make out its because men are discriminating against women? It has nothing to do with that at all move on from the past.
Elizabeth – seriously? Are you 12?
Eva – condoms don’t just benefit men, that also protect women from getting pregnant, it takes two to tango.
Barb – the argument is you don’t chose to have your period, don’t bring up other irrelevant things you chose to do.
Do people complain because they are taxed on using the bathroom, aiding a headache or walking? In other words buying toilet paper, Tylenol, or shoes. Not really. If you buy a product, then typically there is tax on it. It is not sexist to tax a product bought in a store.