Recently there has been another call for the government to drop the GST on tampons.
I read about it on
Destroy The Joint which on the whole is a relevant and respectful page that I'm quite fond of.
Of course my first thought was 'oh my, this is disgraceful, they're taxing us for being women. I must sign the petition' then my second thought was 'meh, tampons are dreadful'. Then I thought about it a bit further and decided that I wouldn't be signing the petition....
Perth student Sophie Liley started an online petition this week, calling on the federal government to abolish the 10 percent tax on tampons and sanitary products. "It's completely outrageous that women are forced to pay the GST on tampons because they're labelled as 'luxury' items - particularly when condoms, lubricants, incontinence pads and sunscreen are GST-free”
No. They are not labeled as luxury items. Health products don't attract GST. Hygiene products do. Is menstruation a health issue? No. It's not. It's a normal physiological function. So it follows that since menstruating is not a disease or a sign of ill health that menstrual products are not health products but hygiene products. Along the lines of loo paper, those bits of cotton on sticks, razors, deodorant, toothpaste and so on. Admittedly they are hygiene products that only women use but none the less they are still in a class of goods that attracts GST. So really it seems to me that the call for GST to be dropped on one group of hygiene products is a call for a tax break because we're women.
Ummm no.
I don't need a tax break because I am a woman. I am an equal member of society and I can shoulder my tax burden. I might need a tax break because I have a low income but not in the form of removing the GST on a product that should attract it.
There are a few things that seem to come up repeatedly in this discussion that I find kind of odd and worthy of a closer look....
I'll paraphrase here......
"But condoms and viagra are tax free. Why are things for men tax free when tampons aren't?" Really? Condoms are things for men? Men might wear condoms but women benefit from them just as much as men do. Condoms provide reliable protections from STD's and pregnancy. This is why women buy them. So too Viagra. Men take Viagra but the benefits are felt by both parties. I imagine that being the partner of a man with erectile dysfunction would become profoundly depressing after a while not to mention the stress of living with a man whose mental health was affected by his ED.
As women surely we should be capable of visualising ourselves as sexual beings who benefit from safe sex with virile partners rather than squeamishly asserting that condoms are for male pleasure and that matters of male sexuality don't affect us.
"Use a menstrual cup instead. Problem solved" "But it's about choices, you've got no right to disrespect our choices"
A menstrual cup is cheaper and better for the environment. That's simple fact.
Tampons are ghastly. That's my opinion about an inanimate object not about their users.
Truth is that if you choose a product that harms the environment over one that does less harm I see no reason why you shouldn't pay a little extra. If the GST on tampons is really so ruinous then choose a cheaper option.
If you haven't come across the menstrual cup before and you're a tampon user I suggest you look into them. I don't know of anyone who has gone back to tampons after buying a cup.
Some links for you...
MeLuna A German Brand. One of the cheapest options because they will waive VAT/GST for Non-European customers.
JuJu Australian Made
Mooncup One of the most established brands. UK based.
"And birth control is so expensive"
Different issue. And they should not be conflated. Of course I think we should all be able to access affordable birth control. But dare I suggest that this is one place the personal should get political. Both parties benefit from birth control so both parties should pay for it. If you shoulder the burden of paying for your birth control method of choice stick your hand out and demand that your partner shoulder some of the burden.
"But incontinence pads/nappies don't attract GST"
Seriously?! You begrudge the incontinent who are usually elderly people or women who have suffered childbirth trauma a few dollars a month on their incontinence products because you have to pay GST on tampons?
But Muummmmm!!
Gimme a break
