Student turns tampon tax into national conversation
No doubt over the last week you've heard something about the tampon tax. The phrase refers to the adding of GST to sanitary pads and tampons. The issue has received a significant amount of media attention after a petition was started by University of Sydney student Subeta Vimalarajah, calling for sanitary products to be exempted.
Subeta and other students campaigning outside Parliament House.
The petition reached a new level last Monday night when Subeta put the issue to Treasurer Joe Hockey on the ABC鈥檚听Q&A.
Subeta, who holds the position of听听with the Students' Representative Council, says it was an experience she will never forget.
鈥淚t was so overwhelming to have Mr Hockey make a commitment to take this issue to the states. I was so grateful for his response,鈥� says Subeta.
While there is no definitive outcome for the petition yet, there鈥檚 no doubting it has succeeded in triggering a national conversation. Almost 100,000 people have signed it in support.
Stories about the tampon tax and its political fortunes have been published by听ABC online, Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, SBS, West Australian, Australian Financial Review, 9高清福利片.com.au,听as well as听Buzzfeed, Pedestrian TV听and听驰补丑辞辞7狈别飞蝉.
Her photograph and the petition were even included in an article on the BBC website about the state of taxes on sanitary products around the world.
Subeta says she was 鈥渄efinitely鈥� surprised by the amount of media attention.听
鈥淚 think the campaign has been successful because this is an issue that affects so many Australians and is a clearly unfair policy,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here have also been a lot of campaigns around this issue in the past that have progressively raised awareness 鈥� I think this campaign signifies the tipping point.鈥�
Subeta was also an editor of听, which hit shelves around campus last week.
Related articles
Surge in flu this winter
People suffering severe flu this winter should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Dementia tsunami: Alzheimer's and other dementias to triple by 2050
Governments need to take action on delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, argues Associate Professor Lesley Russell.
Legalising medicinal cannabis would create $100 million industry
Analysis from the University of Sydney Business School has found that legalising medicinal cannabis in Australia could create a new industry worth more than $100 million per year.听
Ready, set, Rio: Sydney cohort heads to the Games
As more than 3.5 billion people around the world turn their sights towards Rio this week, 30 athletes from our community are getting ready to take their place on the globe鈥檚 biggest sporting stage.
Science student makes greatest self-discovery at the University
'Leave your comfort zone' is Kevin Gatdula鈥檚 motto in life. With an emphasis on continual personal development, the 20-year-old Bachelor of Commerce and Science student believes that this is the only way to cultivate a journey of personal growth.
Learning never stops - but it starts at Open Day
Like so many high school students in their final year, Denise Ong had a head full of questions.听Little did she know at the time that one question she asked would later lead to a major turning point in her story.
Australian study wants your view on personal genomic testing
Do you want to know about your genetic information? Would you share it?
听
Sydney at Rio: two silver and a bronze add to our tally
In a blockbuster first week at Rio 2016 our athletes have continued to excel winning two silver and a bronze to add to Chloe Dalton's gold in the Rugby Sevens. Our total would see us sitting at 35th on the country tally rankings 鈥� ahead of Ireland, Slovenia and Romania.
Future research stars supported under new Sydney fellowship
The first cohort of fellows of the University's new听Sydney Research Accelerator (SOAR)听program has been announced.
Sydney tops the state for graduate employability 听 听听
The University of Sydney has been ranked number one in New South Wales and 49 in the world in the most recent Times Higher Education Global Employability University Rankings.