"It's a bloody joke."
That's how the tampon tax online petition describe the 15 per cent extra women pay on their sanitary items each and every month.
SunLive took to the streets to ask people in the community what they thought of this luxury item tax.
'I think the government should find different ways to fix the economy problems than inflation of necessary products in society,” says Dee Thornton.
Dee Thornton.
The petition on change.org, uploaded and pushed by The Organic Initiative, currently has more than 800 supporters but needs 1000 before it will be sent to Health Minister Jonathan Coleman.
'We're pretty sure that 1.7 million New Zealand women don't choose to menstruate, nor do they choose to have this "luxury" for about 35 years of their life,” the petition says, and Adriana Jensen and Dayna Mears agree.
'I think they should be cheaper, they're necessary,” says Adriana.
Adriana Jensen.
'It's crazy, just crazy. Obviously it's a necessity,” says Dayna.
Dayna Mears.
The online petition states that The Organic Initiative believes women's sanitary products should be reclassified as essential health care items and be GST free.
A notion that Mark Anthony agrees with.
'It's disgusting really. Doesn't it come under the prescriptive medical necessities?”
Mark Anthony
'It's ridiculous,” says Steve O'Donoghue.
Steve O'Donoghue
The online petition was launched 3 months ago, and has been digitally signed by not only women, but New Zealanders of both genders, and international guests.
International supporters include signatures from Australia, Macedonia, and the United Kingdom, where the tampon tax has gripped the media.
Interestingly, the tampon tax doesn't seem to be widely known about in New Zealand.
This reporter didn't realise she was being taxed 15 per cent on sanitary items, and neither did Sheryn Thornton.
'I haven't thought about it really, I didn't know that was happening.
'They're necessities aren't they? I'd say that was terrible. They're not really a luxury item, what do they expect people to do, go back to rags?”
Sheryn Thornton.
7 comments
No brainer
Posted on 06-05-2016 17:14 | By morepork
...and should be "no taxer" too.
Stupid idea
Posted on 06-05-2016 17:54 | By Bay Citizen
NZ chooses to apply GST to just about everything. If you start picking and choosing and exempt "essential items", you're on a major slippery slope that merely benefits lawyers. And for what? The GST paid by the average woman for her tampons for the whole year amounts to around $15. I'd rather they exempted GST on my rates, which being a tax on a tax seems ludicrous and costs me hundreds of dollars a year.
PS
Posted on 06-05-2016 17:59 | By Bay Citizen
This petition seems misguided from the outset. It appears to be a carbon copy of similar petitions in the UK where a distinction IS made between luxury items and essential items and how VAT is charged on them. There is NO such distinction in NZ, so the whole argument is completely flawed. GST IS charged on all essential items in NZ like food.
what next
Posted on 07-05-2016 06:49 | By tonyb1965
What next tax us on the air we breathe ?
Women!!
Posted on 07-05-2016 13:57 | By socantor01
i have a leg wound that needs a daily sterile dressing. Perhaps that should be free too??? Dumb idea. Women don't have buy tampons. Of course they are very convenient, but there other ways achieving feminine hygiene. What did they do before a man designed tampons for them?
Other...
Posted on 07-05-2016 16:20 | By GreertonBoy
Necessity items are used by both men and women... toilet rolls, denture adhesives, tooth paste... soap... if one thing for women is not taxable, then that will set a precident and all necessities will have groups trying to get thier thing exempt from tax... then other taxes will have to rise to make up the short fall... after all, we are the cash cows and we must pay. BTW... what is the tax on tampons we are talking about? What 30c or something? This is all really irritating... nurse... where is my hemorrhoid cream?!
Greerton Boy
Posted on 12-05-2016 18:48 | By Mackka
You have said all the things I was going to say! What a stupid idea!!!!!!!!!!!!
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