New GST products offset tampon tax, Burke

Tony Burke says Labor couldn't remove the GST on women's sanitary products when it was in power because there was nothing to make up the shortfall.

The manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke receives back his NSW Blues scarf from speaker Bronwyn Bishop during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, May 27, 2015. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Source: AAP

Labor has defended not removing the GST on tampons and other sanitary products when it was in power.

Opposition finance spokesman Tony Burke says it will be easier to convince the states about the merits of the measure because the federal government is expanding the GST to cover Netflix and other online services which will make up for a revenue shortfall.

"There's a one-off opportunity now that wasn't there in the last six years," Mr Burke told Sky News.