Sanitary Products As A "luxury" [Archive]

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anarchista feminista

25th June 2006, 13:14

not too sure if there is anything on here. i know that when GST came in women tried to make a stand and take the GST off sanitary items. now i only recently discovered that there is a GST on them because they are seen as a "luxury". i don't mind paying the extra 10% but i am appauled by this label. who makes these laws? men. i would like to see mr howard last a month. heck, a day! now, with elections coming up next year, is the time to make a push. is anyone interested in helping out?
as i attend an all girls school i have a few students and teachers willing to back me up on this one. any other support or advice/ideas are appreciated.

Ian

25th June 2006, 14:02

Yeah that's kinda shitty.

Where you from?

Trent Steele

25th June 2006, 15:33

Here in England (womens') sanitary products are classed as a luxury but (mens') shaving products as a necessity; so they are tax exempt.

It's the result of having laws made almost exclusively by men.

rioters bloc

25th June 2006, 16:56

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2006, 09:03 PM
Yeah that's kinda shitty.

Where you from?
penrith, from her profile

yeah, that's quite the bullshit :/ so is what trent steele said.

i didn't realise that gst was only on 'necessity' items though

An archist

25th June 2006, 18:58

What's GST?

rioters bloc

25th June 2006, 19:03

good and services tax

introduced by the liberal (read: conservative) party of australia in 2000.

rioters bloc

25th June 2006, 19:05

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goods_and_Ser...%28Australia%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goods_and_Services_Tax_%28Australia%29)

Palmares

26th June 2006, 08:45

I'd love to have a beard personally.

It's funny what is considered a luxury really. I wonder what would have GST on it if this was applied to Somalia?

che's long lost daughter

26th June 2006, 15:10

Does this sanitary products include sanitary napkins and tampons? If so, when did these things ever became a luxury? That is totally absurd

rioters bloc

26th June 2006, 17:46

Originally posted by che's long lost [email protected] 26 2006, 10:11 PM
Does this sanitary products include sanitary napkins and tampons? If so, when did these things ever became a luxury? That is totally absurd
yep, i think those are the sanitary items she's referring to.

and yeah... it's ridiculous :/

Ander

26th June 2006, 18:24

Originally posted by rioters [email protected] 25 2006, 01:04 PM
good and services tax

introduced by the liberal (read: conservative) party of australia in 2000.
We've got that shit in Canada too.

Mujer Libre

27th June 2006, 03:02

We should all go bleed on Peter Costello in protest. :P

"Hey we couldn't afford tampons!"

Seriously though, so ridiculous. This goes a long way to explaining just why pads and tampons are so expensive! *looks into getting a keeper*

Maynard

27th June 2006, 03:40

I didn't know this but I'm not surprised. I remember at the time the liberal party wanted a GST on all goods, including food, day care etc. But it's a horribly regressive tax, simply because if you are on a lower income, you spend more of your income as a percentage than those on a higher income. So, those on lower income pay a lot more tax in comparison to their income then anyone else.

FidelCastro

27th June 2006, 07:13

Soap, Shampoo, Shaving stuff for women and men should be tax exempt. The rest should be taxed. What the fuck is conditioner anyway?

rioters bloc

27th June 2006, 09:17

Originally posted by [email protected] 27 2006, 02:14 PM
Soap, Shampoo, Shaving stuff for women and men should be tax exempt. The rest should be taxed. What the fuck is conditioner anyway?
why should pads and tampons be taxed? <_<

Ian

27th June 2006, 13:23

I think its a bit more of a luxury to expect to have a baby's bum smooth face than to expect someone to contend with menstrual blood issues.

anarchista feminista

29th June 2006, 05:17

yeah penrithish. near the blue mountains. western sydney. wherever.
i think these days it's probably necessary to be "clean shaven" because every second person with a beard is being thrown into a detention centre and accused of being a terrorist.
seriously, it's disgusting what those politicians think of.

hehe bleed on em all! *evil laugh* send the libs used tampons in protest. think of how dirty that would be! it's not really making a point but it's still gross. =D

Nothing Human Is Alien

29th June 2006, 08:33

In New York they tax water.

anarchista feminista

29th June 2006, 12:07

Originally posted by Compañ[email protected] 29 2006, 05:34 AM
In New York they tax water.
:huh: *shakes head*
anything to make money, eh?
bastards. :angry:

anarchista feminista

29th June 2006, 12:57

so anyway, is anyone seriously interested in helping out though? doing something?

Maynard

29th June 2006, 14:24

What can be done? I'm not saying that anything can't, I just don't know what could be done.

But I found this interesting exchange, from when it happened:

MATT PEACOCK: Currently the Government is still deciding just which products you might find at your local chemist shop are GST-free and which are not. And today the Health Minister, Doctor Michael Wooldridge, was quite clear on the matter. Things which help to prevent disease, he said, like sunburn cream, should be exempt, but other more cosmetic items should not be. So, he was asked, should tampons be tax-free?

MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE: As a bloke, I'd like shaving cream exempt, but I'm not expecting it to be.

REPORTER: Well, condoms are exempt though. Do you think .

MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE: Well, condoms prevent illness. I wasn't aware that menstruation was an illness.

REPORTER: Right. Well, what about pills that are .

MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE: Prevent illness.

REPORTER: Aspirin?

MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE: Well, aspirin's a medication.

REPORTER: Sun screen?

MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE: Sun screen prevents illness.

REPORTER: So tampons shouldn't be exempt because they don't prevent illness?

MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE: Well, no, shaving cream isn't exempt, soap isn't exempt, toilet paper isn't exempt. I mean, the point is some things are going up but some things are coming down, and people have a lot more money in their pocket so they'll be far better off.

What an idiot. Shaving is the equivalent of having a period, riiiight.

Forward Union

29th June 2006, 19:27

It's a shame there isn't a black market for these goods, unlike cigarettes and alcohol...

You could always steal the goods?

pandora

29th June 2006, 19:54

Letter writing campaign through internet reminding the delegates that 51% of the voting block are women who can throw their asses out of there for such stupidity.

They are doing this because they didn't think anyone would notice, or be to embarassed to speak up. Making a public statement the media would pick up would be embarassing to their careers.

Mujer Libre

30th June 2006, 02:24

Originally posted by Additives [email protected] 29 2006, 04:28 PM
It's a shame there isn't a black market for these goods, unlike cigarettes and alcohol...

You could always steal the goods?
There are heaps of places with free tampons as well, if you know where to look. Womyn's spaces at universities for example.

And yay, I made anarchy_oi's sig. :wub:

Nothing Human Is Alien

30th June 2006, 02:26

Originally posted by anarchy_oi+Jun 29 2006, 09:08 AM--> (anarchy_oi @ Jun 29 2006, 09:08 AM)
Compañ[email protected] 29 2006, 05:34 AM
In New York they tax water.
:huh: *shakes head*
anything to make money, eh?
bastards. :angry: [/b]
In Maryland too..

In New York not only do they tax water, it's 8.5% :(

anarchista feminista

30th June 2006, 08:11

Originally posted by Mujer Libre+Jun 30 2006, 09:25 AM--> (Mujer Libre @ Jun 30 2006, 09:25 AM)
Additives [email protected] 29 2006, 04:28 PM
It's a shame there isn't a black market for these goods, unlike cigarettes and alcohol...

You could always steal the goods?
There are heaps of places with free tampons as well, if you know where to look. Womyn's spaces at universities for example.

And yay, I made anarchy_oi's sig. :wub: [/b]
yeah and youth centres are usually good for bits and pieces but it's not the money that shits me. it's the whole concept.

hehe sure did. that one's a keeper. i think it states a perfect solution, well maybe not solution, to the problem. but i couldn't stop laughing. it made me think of my friend who is quite vulgar and likes art involving body fluid.

i'd so do it. bleed all over their fancy suits.

Rollo

30th June 2006, 12:06

Bits and pieces? I've been able to pick up free condoms, tampons, pads, tissues, meat pies, hot chips, internet access, place to sleep and a hot shower /bathroom from youth centers.

anarchista feminista

19th July 2006, 10:21

soooo anyone at all want to help? i was hoping for a few people to want to be involved... :unsure: :(

rioters bloc

19th July 2006, 10:31

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2006, 05:22 PM
soooo anyone at all want to help? i was hoping for a few people to want to be involved... :unsure: :(
i'd love to :)

what kinda action did you have in mind? i'll bring it up at the next wom*n's collective meeting at my uni, and the next cross-campus wom*n's meeting too :)

anarchista feminista

27th October 2006, 10:23

i personally can't think of what kind of action i'd like to take. i've been thinking for a while but possibly if we organise a meeting to discuss it? it'd be a good focus, but i'd like to think of a few other causes/initiatives to discuss also. let me know if you'd like to do that :D
i have a few shows and family things coming up, aswell as school/study commitments to attend to. but if we plan in advance that's okay. just wondering if you are going to the cruelty free living fest, rioters bloc?

0ntology

31st October 2006, 02:07

I think toilet paper and soap should be exempt. As well as tampons and that kind of stuff. It's stupid to think that the above products don't prevent disease.

Don't they realise how dirty and unclean society would be, if we didn't have ANY soap, toilet paper or tampons?

Shaving cream is an entirely different kettle of fish.

It's ignorance.

anarchista feminista

31st October 2006, 04:54

Originally posted by [email protected] 31, 2006 12:07 pm
I think toilet paper and soap should be exempt. As well as tampons and that kind of stuff. It's stupid to think that the above products don't prevent disease.

Don't they realise how dirty and unclean society would be, if we didn't have ANY soap, toilet paper or tampons?

Shaving cream is an entirely different kettle of fish.

It's ignorance.
ah yes, those things too. sure we could live without them. but you're right, they do prevent disease.