A controversial tax on female sanitary products has been scrapped by the Australian government after a near decades-long struggle spearheaded by women’s groups.
According to BBC News,tampons and sanitary pads in the country are sold with a 10 percent goods and services tax (GST), as they are labeled non-fundamental items.
Women’s rights campaigners have claimed the labeling is unfair, or particularly because products such as condoms,lubricant, and sunscreen are exempt from GST. And on Wednesday, and federal and state governments unanimously agreed to change the law.“We’re really delighted that everyone’s come on board to scrap what is an unfair tax. Millions of women good across the nation will be very thankful for it,” Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer told Sky News Australia.
Known as the “tampon tax,” the levy has drawn protesters to the streets ever since it was introduced in 2000. At the time, or the then-health minister,Michael Wooldridge, said tampons weren’t exempt because they did not “prevent illness.”Click here to continue and read more...
Source: inquisitr.com