Tampon Tax

[MattSAU2XR8]

Unfortunately this is in the news AGAIN

JJJ must have run the story at least a dozen times today and sounded to approve of cheaper tampons

However, I propose that the entire debate is a waste of time given:
- Tampon tax is 30 million per year
- Must be at least 3 million women who need/use them
- So each will now save $10 per year, or 20 c per week, or 80 c per period
- And so could for example buy an icecream once a month with this new found wealth
- While some poor person whose welfare payments are now a bit more stringently policed can miss out on an icecream...

BTW - I'm not saying tampons should or shouldn't be taxed, just that it makes no difference to the end user, and the government could surely find something more productive to do...

[marty351]

.....

[GasoLane]

I also find it worrying that a male would be so concerned about the situation that they'd post it in the wrong area.................moved

[CoupeKing]

I'd be ropeable if I had to pay that kind of tax.

[Fordman1]

Don’t waste our time.

Remove the tax, FFS Condoms are tax free. How does that work ?

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

Don’t waste our time.

Remove the tax, FFS Condoms are tax free. How does that work ?

Cheaper than family welfare

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

Don’t waste our time.

Remove the tax, FFS Condoms are tax free. How does that work ?

How about we add GST to condoms and then everyones even?

[Craig@AUDI]

Originally Posted by CoupeKing

I'd be ropeable if I had to pay that kind of tax.

Or stringable...or seeing red!

[b0son]

GST needs to be on everything. Then nobody can whinge about being unfairly slugged.

[Peter B - CV8]

"The end user" hahaha...

It's about what's fair, and this **** sucks.

[burnz]

why stop there, a tax on necessity's...
toilet paper, razors..

[pauljh74]

The argument being used that the tax should be removed is that they are "essential" items. That may be so, but isn't a reason they shouldn't be subject to a GST. Those arguing for the tax removal liken GST to a luxury tax - which tells me the people making this argument are either a morons or just dishonest. It is a broad based consumption tax and for those who paid attention when the GST was introduced, there were initially going to be far less exemptions and fresh food was going to be taxed.
Toilet paper is classed the same as tampons and is taxed yet considered essential by most people.

The $30 million in reduced tax isn't the end of the issue, it is that once they get this, there'll be something else women want tax free until we get to the point where cosmetics are tax free. The call for an additional 12 days of "period leave" has already come up again, so they haven't disappointed in that way.

Perhaps we should put it to them in this way - which area of government spending on women's services do you want to take the $30 million from?

[zipping]

Originally Posted by MattSAU2XR8

Unfortunately this is in the news AGAIN

JJJ must have run the story at least a dozen times today and sounded to approve of cheaper tampons

However, I propose that the entire debate is a waste of time given:
- Tampon tax is 30 million per year
- Must be at least 3 million women who need/use them
- So each will now save $10 per year, or 20 c per week, or 80 c per period
- And so could for example buy an icecream once a month with this new found wealth
- While some poor person whose welfare payments are now a bit more stringently policed can miss out on an icecream...

BTW - I'm not saying tampons should or shouldn't be taxed, just that it makes no difference to the end user, and the government could surely find something more productive to do...

Do we care when we have a tax on car imports to protect an industry that no longer exists.

Even worse try importing a second hand car.

At least the tampon tax was a consumption tax as intended. The worst thing the Democrats ever did was create exemptions. System far more complicated and now pressure groups can hound politicians to get preferential treatment for pet interests.

Just creates more power for lobbyists and special interests at the rest of the public's expense.

Good for tax lawyers and accountants though, screw productivity who needs economic growth these days.

[csv8]

A female can take a pill each month to stop her period. Not medically advisable. But would solve the tax problem!

Why aren't condoms and lube taxed?

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by leesa

Why aren't condoms and lube taxed?

What do they have to do with tampons...?

Is it because condoms are worn by men?

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

What do they have to do with tampons...?

Is it because condoms are worn by men?

They're products that managed to get exemptions for reasons that should also apply to tampons and yet... didn't.
That's what they have to do with tampons. Do you have an answer to my question or are you trying to find something to get outraged about?

[b0son]

Originally Posted by leesa

They're products that managed to get exemptions for reasons that should also apply to tampons and yet... didn't.

Those products are regulated as medical devices by the TGA. Tampons are not. Its a classification issue, not a patriarchy issue. If they were to make tampons medical devices, the GTS would go, but the product cost would rise because of the additional regulatory burden. You choose which you prefer.

[Adamz Ghia]

Answered above.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by csv8

A female can take a pill each month to stop her period. Not medically advisable. But would solve the tax problem!

Causes issues with hormones and causes changes in body

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by MattSAU2XR8

Unfortunately this is in the news AGAIN

JJJ must have run the story at least a dozen times today and sounded to approve of cheaper tampons

However, I propose that the entire debate is a waste of time given:
- Tampon tax is 30 million per year
- Must be at least 3 million women who need/use them
- So each will now save $10 per year, or 20 c per week, or 80 c per period
- And so could for example buy an icecream once a month with this new found wealth
- While some poor person whose welfare payments are now a bit more stringently policed can miss out on an icecream...

BTW - I'm not saying tampons should or shouldn't be taxed, just that it makes no difference to the end user, and the government could surely find something more productive to do...

Quality journalism from JJJ /end sarc

[Maka]

Its a sly vote grab imo though tampons should've never have been taxed in the first place.

cheers, Maka

[superyob]

Glad to see the important issues are being tackled...

[smoo]

I'd think the leftists air heads at JJJ would be promoting menstrual cups and trying to discourage the use of tampons. They pay for themselves after 6 or so months and, fitting in with the convenient guilt tripping plastic bag & straw ban, they are more environmentally friendly.

The amount of clear and intentional sexism, potshots and general feelings of superiority over women on this board is astounding, it's not that far from the likes of reddit and 4chan.
Threads like this one do nothing more than give more opportunity for even more potshots towards women.

Can we just have a ****ing break from the disdain shown towards women?

[cs123]

Originally Posted by leesa

The amount of clear and intentional sexism, potshots and general feelings of superiority over women on this board is astounding, it's not that far from the likes of reddit and 4chan.
Threads like this one do nothing more than give more opportunity for even more potshots towards women.

Can we just have a ****ing break from the disdain shown towards women?

Edit: Oh here we go, GasOLane's here to moderate me again...

Here are some stats on this forum

Threads: 374,678, Posts: 6,030,428, Members: 124,125

This place is a sample of society. In it you will find women haters, men haters, gay haters, Conservatives, Progressives. Typically the people at the ends of a spectrum feel the need to be heard the loudest. So when they get given a soap box, they will stand on it and yell their voices co****.

This is one thread out of 374K and about 10 people are contributing to it. Don't tar everyone with that brush of being sexist because you are having an argument with 0.0008% of the members of AFF.

My advice to you is to not feel the need to "win" arguments with people on the internet. They won't listen, they are just yelling too. And just because you are not "winning" do not resort to name calling. That is the typical response of someone who has run out of arguments.

Personally I don't think there should be a tax on hygiene products. Where do you draw the line though? Should safety products like fire extinguishers and seat belts be taxed?

In the end the government wants money and will take it from the people anyway they can.

[Ratmick]

Originally Posted by cs123

Here are some stats on this forum

This place is a sample of society. In it you will find women haters, men haters, gay haters, Conservatives, Progressives. Typically the people at the ends of a spectrum feel the need to be heard the loudest. So when they get given a soap box, they will stand on it and yell their voices co****.

This is one thread out of 374K and about 10 people are contributing to it. Don't tar everyone with that brush of being sexist because you are having an argument with 0.0008% of the members of AFF.

My advice to you is to not feel the need to "win" arguments with people on the internet. They won't listen, they are just yelling too. And just because you are not "winning" do not resort to name calling. That is the typical response of someone who has run out of arguments.

Personally I don't think there should be a tax on hygiene products. Where do you draw the line though? Should safety products like fire extinguishers and seat belts be taxed?

In the end the government wants money and will take it from the people anyway they can.

The internet is a great place for anyone with an opinion, it doesn't matter how obnoxious or nasty there's always a platform and there's always an audience. Most people aren't racist sexist bullying misogynist pigs but this proportion of society is over-represented in an environment where anonymity is virtually guaranteed.

So as to the original question, no there shouldn't be tax on sanitary items when the only other option is to make your own (and pay tax on the materials). It's stupid and it's discriminatory.

Where the line should be drawn is outside of my last statement.

The line should be drawn where the item is required by a section of the population that is forced to pay for it and there is no other option. If the item is essential for their well-being (and here is where the debate starts) then no GST. If it's optional or a random occurrence then GST should be applied.

Having something to stop menstrual flow leaking from your body and onto your clothing and everything you sit on for 4-5 days a month (if you're lucky) is essential to your well-being...if you're a women in a certain age group.

Myself as a male is not directly affected by this but I can appreciate it would be a massive inconvenience (and that is putting it mildly)...and this is going to be a regular thing that is going to happen every month to my daughter, my fiancee's daughters, my son's partner and both of their daughters for 40-odd years of their lives.

Other examples could be long-term prescription medication...but not your once a year antibiotics, something like medication for a condition that you will have to live with for the rest of your life....like diabetes/cancer/whatever. Just as a side note this should all be covered by the PBS scheme as well. Sick poor people should not have to go without food or mortgage their home to stay alive.

Birth control on the other hand is a trickier one. You don't have to pay for it, but it's better you do if you would like to partake and don't want children. Should you pay GST on it...yeah, probably...it's not the same use case as sanitary items.

The problem with GST, and a lot of other taxes...like the luxury car tax we pay even though we don't have a local car industry to protect any more, is that the government loves the revenue and doesn't like to give it up without a fight. With GST on sanitary items they have a guaranteed income source from a large section of the population that shifts as the population ages. They're not going to give that up unless they have something gain in return, like trying to sway the fertile female population to vote for them.

Another issue with GST is that it's arbitrarily and inconsistently applied.

...however this is the same with other taxes, and things like private health cover that are really taxes in disguise (you pay for private health cover otherwise the government will tax you more, it's a win/win for them either way).

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Ratmick

The internet is a great place for anyone with an opinion, it doesn't matter how obnoxious or nasty there's always a platform and there's always an audience. Most people aren't racist sexist bullying misogynist pigs but this proportion of society is over-represented in an environment where anonymity is virtually guaranteed.

So as to the original question, no there shouldn't be tax on sanitary items when the only other option is to make your own (and pay tax on the materials). It's stupid and it's discriminatory.

Where the line should be drawn is outside of my last statement.

The line should be drawn where the item is required by a section of the population that is forced to pay for it and there is no other option. If the item is essential for their well-being (and here is where the debate starts) then no GST. If it's optional or a random occurrence then GST should be applied.

Having something to stop menstrual flow leaking from your body and onto your clothing and everything you sit on for 4-5 days a month (if you're lucky) is essential to your well-being...if you're a women in a certain age group.

Myself as a male is not directly affected by this but I can appreciate it would be a massive inconvenience (and that is putting it mildly)...and this is going to be a regular thing that is going to happen every month to my daughter, my fiancee's daughters, my son's partner and both of their daughters for 40-odd years of their lives.

Other examples could be long-term prescription medication...but not your once a year antibiotics, something like medication for a condition that you will have to live with for the rest of your life....like diabetes/cancer/whatever. Just as a side note this should all be covered by the PBS scheme as well. Sick poor people should not have to go without food or mortgage their home to stay alive.

Birth control on the other hand is a trickier one. You don't have to pay for it, but it's better you do if you would like to partake and don't want children. Should you pay GST on it...yeah, probably...it's not the same use case as sanitary items.

The problem with GST, and a lot of other taxes...like the luxury car tax we pay even though we don't have a local car industry to protect any more, is that the government loves the revenue and doesn't like to give it up without a fight. With GST on sanitary items they have a guaranteed income source from a large section of the population that shifts as the population ages. They're not going to give that up unless they have something gain in return, like trying to sway the fertile female population to vote for them.

Another issue with GST is that it's arbitrarily and inconsistently applied.

...however this is the same with other taxes, and things like private health cover that are really taxes in disguise (you pay for private health cover otherwise the government will tax you more, it's a win/win for them either way).

would thy consider food and water essential ??

as stated where does it stop..

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by Ratmick

The line should be drawn where the item is required by a section of the population that is forced to pay for it and there is no other option. If the item is essential for their well-being (and here is where the debate starts) then no GST. If it's optional or a random occurrence then GST should be applied.

How high do you want the GST to be once we remove the tax on all the things you believe should be tax free? Again I'll point out that the GST is not a luxury tax as you and many others incorrectly view it as, it is a broad based consumption tax. That means many, but not all "essential" items are taxed. If it was implemented in a purer form, fresh food would be taxed among other things as well. Considering the state of the federal budget currently, it would be smarter to add items to be subject to GST rather than removing them. The income tax scales were altered when the GST was introduced to compensate for the changes at the time.

I'm just getting tired of hearing of numerous short sighted people out there calling for more, more, more (not just on this issue) and then wanting to pay less tax. You want to go on about how a tax on tampons is discriminatory to women? Which half of the population takes more in tax funded benefits and services than it pays in over a lifetime? Hint, it isn't men. Women as a demographic are already subsidised.

Before anyone brings up the gender wage gap as a reason why women pay less tax:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjWBXbGVyQU