'Axe the tampon tax'- says campaigner Daizy Maan

"If India can do it, so can Australia" says Melbourne-based student Daizy Maan who has started a social media campaign urging the Australian government to remove GST on tampons and sanitary pads.

Source: AAP

The battle against the so-called ‘tampon tax’ in India witnessed a landmark victory on July 21^st this year when the federal government agreed to scrap its 12 per cent goods and services tax (GST) on all sanitary products in the country.

Melbourne-based student Daizy Maan, whose parents migrated from the northern Indian state of Punjab in the late 1990s, now wants Australia to follow in the Indian government’s footsteps.

Daizy Maan has started a campaign asking Australian government to remove GST on tampons and sanitary pads. Source: Supplied

Speaking with SBS Punjabi, the passionate crusader of women’s rights said: “If India can listen to the voice of women, then so can Australia.

“Yet here in Australia it's been 18 years since the first group of incredible women took to the streets about this unusual GST on sanitary products, yet here we are with no solid commitment on removing the tax.”

Ms Maan, who is studying law and commerce at Deakin University has started a campaign on Facebook called “bloodyridiculous”, urging fellow netizens to join the movement seeking removal of the controversial tax.

"The plan is to get together on the 18th August to make art with sanitary products at Federation Square, once the law changes which I'm adamant it will need to, I'm organizing a celebration with Bloody Mary's cocktails to celebrate long overdue change."

Social media campaign against tampon tax Source: Supplied

“I didn't expect the event would reach 15,000 in a couple of days and have over 100 people interested in attending", adds Ms Maan.

Tampons and pads are subject to a 10 per cent GST in Australia, but other health products such as sunscreen, lubricant, condoms and Viagra remain tax-free.

Campaigners like Ms Maan who want the tax to be removed argue that it’s unfair that products like condoms, Viagra and sunscreen are exempt from GST, yet it applies to necessities like sanitary pads.

In a small victory, a bill put forward by the Greens, seeking to repel the tampon tax was passed through the Senate earlier this month.

However, the road to success is a long one as unanimous support from the states and territories is required for any change to the GST. 

It's a prospect which could be unlikely as removing the tax would cost them $115 million in revenue over a period of three years, according to a 2017 Parliamentary Budget Office report.

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