Help women, cut taxes

IT is time for the Government to review the tax on sanitary items for women.
The Australian Federal Government recently announced the removal of tax from women’s sanitary items like tampons.
Most of our mothers, aunties, sisters and daughters are unemployed and find it difficult to pay for tampons.
Recently, I heard emotional responses from mothers interviewed on EMTV’s Olsem Wanem programme on the United Nations-funded national Water Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) programme in Southern Highlands.
Mothers openly admitted to using pieces of cloth instead of tampons.
As a man, I don’t take much notice of the plight and suffering of our mothers, sisters and daughters, and I believe this will be the same for much of the male population. The plight of women and the lack of access to tampons were shared by female farmers in Australia whose farms and livestock were affected by two years of draught. The Australian Federal Government responded to a petition, which pleaded on behalf of the disadvantaged mothers and daughters for tax-free tampons.
I believe the experience our mothers and daughters in PNG face are widespread and daunting. The government should stop collecting tax from the pain and suffering of our mothers and daughters.
To mothers and daughters in senior positions in government and the private sector and those who attend government or privately sponsored forums, push for tax-free tampons in Papua New Guinea.
It’s time to stand united, women. Get a petition signed and pass it on to a Member of a Parliament to be raised in the House. This truly is a worthy cause, which all Papua New Guineans should support.

Hunters Tok Stret