MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Australia Has Been Criticised By More Than 30 Countries At UN Session Over Its Child Incarceration Laws

Australia Has Been Criticised By More Than 30 Countries At UN Session Over Its Child Incarceration Laws

Kamala Harris' Views On Policing, The Economy, Immigration, And More

Kamala Harris' Views On Policing, The Economy, Immigration, And More

Meghan Markle And Gloria Steinem Have Been Cold-Calling People To Vote Following Their Backyard Chat

Meghan Markle And Gloria Steinem Have Been Cold-Calling People To Vote Following Their Backyard Chat

Kamala Harris Has A Chance To Enact Major Gun Control Legislation In America

Kamala Harris Has A Chance To Enact Major Gun Control Legislation In America

{headline}

{headline}

Why White Allies Need To Fight For Constitutional Change

Why White Allies Need To Fight For Constitutional Change

Behind Our Campaign For Indigenous Constitutional Rights

Behind Our Campaign For Indigenous Constitutional Rights

Finland Is Now Completely Run By Women

Finland Is Now Completely Run By Women

{headline}

{headline}

World Leaders Appear To Poke Fun At Donald Trump At Buckingham Palace Reception

World Leaders Appear To Poke Fun At Donald Trump At Buckingham Palace Reception

Donald Trump’s Strange Hand-Written Notes Have Gone Viral

Donald Trump’s Strange Hand-Written Notes Have Gone Viral

Everything To Know About The Priyanka Chopra Controversy

Everything To Know About The Priyanka Chopra Controversy

5 Of The Most Insane Things US Politicians Have Actually Said This Week

5 Of The Most Insane Things US Politicians Have Actually Said This Week

Seven Women To Watch This Election

Seven Women To Watch This Election

Everything You Need To Know About The Federal Election

Everything You Need To Know About The Federal Election

How To Make Your Vote Count In Saturday’s NSW State Election

How To Make Your Vote Count In Saturday’s NSW State Election

  1. Home
  2. News

Finally! Australia Has Abolished The Tampon Tax

It only took 18 years… - by Anna McClelland
  • 04 Oct 2018
Finally! Australia Has Abolished The Tampon Tax

After lagging behind the US, Canada and even Kenya, the Australian government has finally admitted that actually, tampons aren’t ‘luxury items’ (who would have thought?), and no, women shouldn’t be taxed for a basic biological function over which they have no control.

State and territory treasurers unanimously agreed to pass the Federal Government’s proposal to make sanitary products exempt from GST yesterday, the ABC reports, after an 18-year campaign that kicked off when GST was first introduced.

Tampons, pads, menstrual cups, maternity pads and leak-proof underwear are all expected to be included in the revised exemption list, which will come into effect by January 1, 2019.

They’ll join other health items like condoms and Viagra, which have always been exempt (and people wonder why we need more women in government).

SBS News on Twitter

As The Guardian reports, when the tampon tax first came into effect with the advent of GST in 2000, the then health minister, Michael Wooldridge, explained that they didn’t “prevent illness” and therefore weren’t exempt.

“As a bloke, I’d like shaving cream exempt but I’m not expecting it to be,” he told the ABC. “Condoms prevent illness. I wasn’t aware that menstruation was an illness.”

And women everywhere rolled their eyes.

Anna McClelland
Anna McClelland
Anna is marie claire and InStyle's assistant digital content manager, reporting on everything from sell-out skincare to Meghan Markle's messy bun. Her work has taken her to tea with Miranda Kerr, the red carpet with Margot Robbie and New York with Jason Wu. Her words can also be found on Vogue, Body & Soul and Buro 24/7.

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Australia Has Been Criticised By More Than 30 Countries At UN Session Over Its Child Incarceration Laws

Australia Has Been Criticised By More Than 30 Countries At UN Session Over Its Child Incarceration Laws

Kamala Harris' Views On Policing, The Economy, Immigration, And More

Kamala Harris' Views On Policing, The Economy, Immigration, And More

Meghan Markle And Gloria Steinem Have Been Cold-Calling People To Vote Following Their Backyard Chat

Meghan Markle And Gloria Steinem Have Been Cold-Calling People To Vote Following Their Backyard Chat

Kamala Harris Has A Chance To Enact Major Gun Control Legislation In America

Kamala Harris Has A Chance To Enact Major Gun Control Legislation In America

{headline}

{headline}

Why White Allies Need To Fight For Constitutional Change

Why White Allies Need To Fight For Constitutional Change

Behind Our Campaign For Indigenous Constitutional Rights

Behind Our Campaign For Indigenous Constitutional Rights

Finland Is Now Completely Run By Women

Finland Is Now Completely Run By Women

{headline}

{headline}

World Leaders Appear To Poke Fun At Donald Trump At Buckingham Palace Reception

World Leaders Appear To Poke Fun At Donald Trump At Buckingham Palace Reception

Donald Trump’s Strange Hand-Written Notes Have Gone Viral

Donald Trump’s Strange Hand-Written Notes Have Gone Viral

Everything To Know About The Priyanka Chopra Controversy

Everything To Know About The Priyanka Chopra Controversy

5 Of The Most Insane Things US Politicians Have Actually Said This Week

5 Of The Most Insane Things US Politicians Have Actually Said This Week

Seven Women To Watch This Election

Seven Women To Watch This Election

Everything You Need To Know About The Federal Election

Everything You Need To Know About The Federal Election

How To Make Your Vote Count In Saturday’s NSW State Election

How To Make Your Vote Count In Saturday’s NSW State Election

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Instyle
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

Shop This Offer
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*