Andrew Leigh

TANYA PLIBERSEK, SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN

CHRIS BOWEN, SHADOW TREASURER

ANDREW LEIGH, SHADOW ASSISTANT TREASURER

SLOMO MISLEADING ON TAMPON TAX, IT’S NOT A ‘SILLY ISSUE’

Scott Morrison was his normal charming and angry self today, refusing to engage on Labor’s proposal to scrap the GST on tampons.

Time’s up on this issue. It’s not only a tax on women, but it’s a tax that shouldn’t have been applied in the first place – there is no question that sanitary products are not a luxury item.

Australian women spend around $300 million on tampons and pads each year, including around $30 million in tax.

Mr Morrison pretending to hide behind Gladys Berejiklian on this issue is ridiculous.

The Abbott and Turnbull Governments have had a number of opportunities now to make the case to states and territories that additional GST revenue will be made available while removing the unfair tax on women’s sanitary products, but have failed each and every time.

Federal Labor has led the way in putting forward a new proposal to scrap the tampon tax and offsetting the lost revenue to the states by applying GST consistently to 12 natural therapies.

There’s no reason why the Turnbull Government couldn’t make this decision and it be reflected in the Budget next week.

If Scott Morrison continues with the excuses and bluster and lies, a Shorten Labor Government will work with state and territory governments to scrap the tax urgently upon coming to office.

Scrapping the tampon tax will make sanitary products more affordable – but just as importantly, it will be an important step forward in gender equity.

Authorised by Noah Carroll ALP Canberra