“After 18 years, it’s time to finally axe this unfair tax, so I’m introducing a bill this week to get the job done,” Greens senator Janet Rice told BuzzFeed News when she introduced the bill on Wednesday May 8.



"For too long, successive governments have been happy to let this sexist tax persist," Rice said. "People who menstruate continue to be taxed unfairly every time they go to the chemist or supermarket to buy essential sanitary items.”

Rice's bill will propose amendments to the GST and change the classification of tampons, sanitary pads and liners – which are currently listed as non-essential "luxury" items – to essential health products.

Senior Labor sources confirmed to BuzzFeed News the party would support the Greens' bill. With the help of four crossbenchers – David Leyonhjelm, Derryn Hinch, Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick – it gives the bill the 39 votes it needs to pass the Senate.


Rice told BuzzFeed News she's pleased that Labor has indicated it's on board to support her bill to axe the tampon tax.



"When I introduced the bill it was co-sponsored by three other crossbenchers, so it's looking good for this bill passing the Senate," Rice said. "The ball is then in Malcolm Turnbull's court and is another test of his leadership.

"We know he'll defer responsibility to the states, but the states that don’t support axing the tax all have Liberal governments. The fact is if there was federal leadership to axe this tax from the prime minister, these states would fall into line. [Minister for women] Kelly O’Dwyer’s comments [that it is not a federal issue] show just how the Turnbull government is trying to pass the buck back and avoid real action."

Labor previously didn't have a position on the Greens' bill, as voices calling to scrap the tax grew louder.



"[The Greens] obviously announced that bill after we had made our announcement and that's fine because victory has a thousand fathers," Labor senator Kimberley Kitching told BuzzFeed's OzPol Live Twitter show.



"There is no limit to what a man can achieve if he doesn't mind who gets the credit," Kitching said, quoting the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan.

"The bill is obviously worth considering and worth looking at, but we are the only ones with a fully costed approach to this issue to removing the tax."