On 16th July 2018, Australia's leading cross-platform publisher, Bauer Media pledged to strongly advocate in the battle to “end what is essentially a tax on being a woman”, it stated in a recent release.
Engaging with 85% of Australian women annually through its commitment to help push “a better female future”, the lifestyle publisher initiates its 'No Gender Selective Tax' campaign.
Removing Goods and Services Tax (GST)
"I am proud to unite with my peers to call for the removal of the tax on sanitary items to ensure equality for all Australian women,” highlighted Nicole Byers, Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Women's Weekly, a Bauer Media brand, as it strives to remove the GST from the price of tampons, pads and sanitary items for Australian women, with the player's other leading names.
"Women spend around $300 mn (€256mn) (Parliamentary Budget Office, 2015) a year on sanitary items, with an estimated $30 mn (€25.6 mn) on GST. This is an unfair cost for women, imposed on them for just being a woman,” explains Effie Zahos, Editor of Money.
Showing support
As it aims to publish 10 million words by 2019 to help achieve a more equal future for women, Bauer Media is encouraging Australians to support the campaign by visiting bloodyannoying.com and stating “I agree”.
With a global network that comprises 600 magazines, 400 digital products and 100 TV and radio stations, Bauer Media’s 36 media brands including leading titles such as Cosmopolitan, ELLE and The Australian Women's Weekly all support this initiative.
Commenting on the fundamental values that the campaign is advocating for, Lorna Gray, Editor of Cosmopolitan, points out: "I am proud to be involved in a campaign, and with a company, that is helping to drive change. This isn't just about women. It's about equity and fairness. The GST on tampons is effectively a tax on gender. Nothing else, male or female, is comparable. The GST treatment of sanitary products is unique."
GST exemptions
GST was first introduced in 2000, and ever since, women have been paying tax on tampons and other sanitary items. Alternatively, both condoms and viagra have received an exemption from GST. Stating how “tampons are almost the only essential item that is purchased exclusively by one sex”, Bauer Media emphasises that the “GST on it directly and solely penalises women”.
"This is not about taking a political position. It's about taking a position strongly in support of women. We are attempting to correct an oversight made when the GST was introduced in 2000 and encourage all sides of politics to come together now and do the right thing,” added Byers.
"When you consider women who are homeless or living in poverty, the GST makes an already expensive but essential item even more so. It is time to do what most fair-minded Australians know is the right thing to do,” added Gray.
The 'No Gender Selective Tax' campaign is now live across all of Bauer Media’s print, digital and social media channels, connecting with 8.5 mn Australians, according to data taken from Roy Morgan in March 2018.