‘Tampon tax’ axed in GST carve-up

THE Morrison Government’s proposal to remove tampons and pads from the GST has been unanimously agreed to.

THE Morrison Government’s proposal to remove tampons and pads from the GST has been unanimously agreed to.

The Daily Telegraph revealed, just weeks before he became Prime Minister, that Mr Morrison would take a lead role in ending what has been long described a “sexist tax” on tampons and sanitary pads.

GST overhaul.... Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in Sydney yesterday. Picture: AAP

Mr Morrison said it was time this “source of frustration and angst” for women ended.

The price of tampons could fall within months following today’s meeting. Picture Kym Smith

The Daily Telegraph revealed, just weeks before he became Prime Minister, that Scott Morrison would take a lead role in ending what has been long described a “sexist tax” on tampons and sanitary pads. Mr Morrison said it was time this “source of frustration and angst” for women ended.

The government must secure­ agreement from all states and territories to scrap the tax because it affects how much GST is collected. It has long been argued that applying the GST to sanitary products was a “sexist tax on women’s biology” but state treasurers have in the past ­refused to give up the $30 million a year it generates nationally.

Labor treasury spokesman Chris Bowen hoped state and territory treasurers did agree to take the tax off tampons.

“This is the reform that is beyond time,” he said.

Mr Frydenberg said it was the Coalition’s advocacy on this issue that led to it being discussed today.