Labor says it will axe a $30million-a-year tampon tax if it wins the next election.
The announcement comes as increased spending on breast screening is set to be a key feature of next month’s Budget.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said the 10 per cent GST on tampons is a ‘tax on women’, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said the 10 per cent GST on tampons is a ‘tax on women’
Getting rid of the tax would save each woman about $1000 over the course of their lifetime
‘Ending this unfair tax has been in the too hard basket for too long. Of course sanitary items aren’t a luxury item, it’s ridiculous to think otherwise.’
Mr Shorten said if Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull does not support scrapping tax on essential sanitary items in the Budget then he would work with state and territory governments to get rid of it, should Labor win the next election.
Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Pilbersk said getting rid of the tax would be ‘an important step forward in gender equity’.
Getting rid of the tax would save each woman about $1000 over the course of their lifetime.
Meanwhile, women will receive more than $200 towards 3D breast cancer screening as part of the next Budget.
Beginning in November, more than 240,000 women who need advance breast screening will save $202, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Previously they have had to pay out of their own pockets for the tests, which can detect 40 per cent more cancers than traditional methods.
Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Pilbersk said getting rid of the tax would be ‘an important step forward in gender equity’
Digital breast tomosynthesis differs from traditional 2D mammograms in that it fives radiologists a clearer view, making it easier to find abnormalities.
Breast Cancer Network Australia director of advocacy and policy Danielle Spence said subsidising breast cancer screenings would allow more women to gain access to ‘vital testing at an affordable rate’.
In 2015, treasurer Joe Hockey tried to end the tax on tampons but was overruled by then prime minister Tony Abbott.
‘We have to broaden the tax base, not start carving out politically correct exemptions.’
Women will receive more than $200 towards 3D breast cancer screening as part of the next Budget