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| Australian student leaves politician speechless with online petition against the tampon tax | Australian student leaves politician speechless with online petition against the tampon tax |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| It's not often a politician is left flummoxed on live television. It's even rarer when they announce a change in government policy at the same time. | It's not often a politician is left flummoxed on live television. It's even rarer when they announce a change in government policy at the same time. |
| That's exactly what happened when a female student down under left the Australian Treasurer speechless after she started an online petition calling on the government to repeal the tampon tax. | That's exactly what happened when a female student down under left the Australian Treasurer speechless after she started an online petition calling on the government to repeal the tampon tax. |
| Sanitary pads and tampons currently attract the 10 per cent Goods and Services tax in Australia, whereas condoms and sunscreen do not. | Sanitary pads and tampons currently attract the 10 per cent Goods and Services tax in Australia, whereas condoms and sunscreen do not. |
| So, Sydney University student Subeta Vimalarajah started a petition and addressed the Australian Treasurer, Joe Hockey, about what he would do about the "unfair" tax. | So, Sydney University student Subeta Vimalarajah started a petition and addressed the Australian Treasurer, Joe Hockey, about what he would do about the "unfair" tax. |
| Watch Vimalrajah address Mr Hockey on Australian TV: | Watch Vimalrajah address Mr Hockey on Australian TV: |
| Vimalarajah spoke to Mr Hockey on ABC TV, asking him "Mr Hockey, do you think that sanitary products are essential health good for half the population?" | Vimalarajah spoke to Mr Hockey on ABC TV, asking him "Mr Hockey, do you think that sanitary products are essential health good for half the population?" |
| The question seemed to surprise Mr Hockey, who gave a memorable series of expressions as he tried to come up with a response: | The question seemed to surprise Mr Hockey, who gave a memorable series of expressions as he tried to come up with a response: |
| Eventually, Mr Hockey said: "Do I think that sanitary products are essential? I think so, I think so." | |
| Pressed on the matter, he said that he would raise the issue at the next meeting of representatives from the states of Australia. | Pressed on the matter, he said that he would raise the issue at the next meeting of representatives from the states of Australia. |
| Vimalarajah's petition has nearly 100,000 signatures. | Vimalarajah's petition has nearly 100,000 signatures. |
| However, despite Mr Hockey saying he would look into repealing the tax, the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, has distanced himself from any such decision. | However, despite Mr Hockey saying he would look into repealing the tax, the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, has distanced himself from any such decision. |
| "I understand there's long been a push to take the GST off goods, which are one way or another regarded as health products," Mr Abbott said. | "I understand there's long been a push to take the GST off goods, which are one way or another regarded as health products," Mr Abbott said. |
| "It's certainly not something that this Government has a plan to do." | "It's certainly not something that this Government has a plan to do." |