Tampon Tax Is Over: Your Pads and Menstrual Cups May Soon Be GST-Free

Things will get a little cheaper for those who menstruate.

After years of discussion and little movement, the tampon tax has finally been flushed down the toilet by Australia.

Treasurers from the states and territories met this morning and decided on the exemption, which may include tampons (duh), sanitary pads, menstrual cups and even period underwear.

Hooray for trashing the tax on tampons! Now to solve pay equality, super gap and affordable housing 😊@abccanberra

— ᴇᴍᴍᴀ ᴅᴀᴠɪᴅsᴏɴ ᴀᴄᴛ ☀️ (@emmadavidsonACT) October 2, 2018

The whole tampons thing is like someone starving begging at a table for a couple of grains of salt, and the diners giving those grains of salt then expecting congratulations.

— Kate (@erstkate) October 2, 2018

Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer told Sky News she was delighted at the news.

"Well, it's had a fairly tortured history… [former treasurer Joe Hockey] didn't get a lot of support from the states and territories at that time… but we said we wanted to have another crack at it," O'Dwyer said.

She also mentioned that "millions of women right across the nation will be very thankful for it" though it should be noted that menstruation isn't exclusively a women's issue. In fact, the tax also affects trans men and genderqueer people who menstruate as well as any household with people in it who menstruate.

The tampon tax has been a spot for contention since the GST (Goods and Services Tax) was first introduced in 2000. Despite other "essential health items" like condoms, lubricants, nicotine patches and even viagra pills being exempted from the tax, sanitary products have maintained the 10 per cent tax.

While it won't make a drastic change for many (without GST, a $5 packet of pads will be just under $4.50), it's the principle that counts. 

Header Image: iStock.com/Masanyanka