Australian Treasurer Says He Supports Removing The Tax On Tampons

Treasurer promises to raise the issue with the states at the next COAG meeting.

After a heavy flow of signatures on a petition asking the treasurer to remove the GST on tampons and sanitary products, Joe Hockey was forced to address the matter on ABC's Q&A program on Monday night.

ABC Q&A @QandA

.@JoeHockey responds to a question regarding tax reform on tampons & other sanitary products #QandA http://t.co/uAeLFJnNTO

12:28 PM - 25 May 2015

Supporters of the campaign argue that it is unfair that tampons aren't considered an essential health product by the government and do not qualify for a GST exemption. Condoms, lubricant and incontinence pads are all exempt from the 10% tax.

Student activist Subeta Vimalarajah put the hard word on the federal treasurer with a video question, while posing with a giant tampon.

ABC

"I started a petition against taxing the sanitary products under the GST. It now has over 86,000 signees and 11,000 submissions to the Better Tax Review.

Mr Hockey, do you think that sanitary products are an essential health good for half the population?"

At first, all the treasurer could do was laugh awkwardly.

ABC

"You could try saying 'I'm not a financial adviser'," offered Tony Jones helpfully.

ABC

And then they both laughed for a little too long, because there were no lady panellists to jump in and save them from the lady question.

"Do I think sanitary products are essential? I think so. Should the GST be taken off them? It probably should, yes. The answer is yes."

ABC

He went on to say that he was "more than happy" to do something about fixing the tax, and made this promise:

"I will give you this undertaking: I will raise it with the states at the next meeting of the treasurers in July".

"I was actually asked about it in a pub the the other day as well, in Politics In The Pub," he said.

Joe Hockey @JoeHockey

Huge turnout to politics in the pub with Luke Howarth in Petrie - lots of energy and great questions!

10:43 AM - 21 May 2015

What he didn't say was that his attitude to changing the tampon tax was completely different at that event, only five days earlier.

Facebook: JoeHockeyMP

When Brisbane woman Katie Ryan asked him about it last Thursday, Joe Hockey told her she should raise it with the Queensland treasurer.

"All states need to agree on changes to the GST, so there is nothing I can do for you. The federal government has no plans to make any changes to items receiving GST,” he said.

"I'm so amazed and really happy with Mr Hockey's response," Subeta told BuzzFeed News. "I was prepared to start an argument but it wasn't even necessary!"

ABC

She's not going to stop her campaign to remove the tax, and will continue touring the giant tampon to other universities to raise awareness and encourage people to make submissions to the tax review.

And will the tampon make its way to the office of the treasurer, as originally planned?

"It depends," Subeta says. "Politicians are known to break their promises so I want to hold Mr Hockey to his word!"

And on Twitter, the giant tampon was a star.

Lisa Dib @LisaDib1

The giant tampon is the best part of tonight and also the most sensical #qanda

12:25 PM - 25 May 2015

Rebecca Shaw @Brocklesnitch

i’ve been waiting so long for a giant tampon to appear on my tv #qanda

12:23 PM - 25 May 2015

Maxine @slamup

Quick, somebody print the Arts Cuts petition onto a giant tampon. #qanda

12:24 PM - 25 May 2015

Montana Griffiths @Montana_gw

YESSSS GIANT TAMPON @QandA #qanda #ujcomm2657

12:22 PM - 25 May 2015