Scotland Is The First Country To make Period Products Free! Should Australia Do The Same?

Scotland has just passed a new groundbreaking law which makes period products free for all, and in doing so becomes the first country in the world to make period products available at no charge.

The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill was passed unanimously on Tuesday, after it was first introduced to the Scottish Parliament in 2017, according to ABC News.

The new scheme, estimated to cost around 24 million pounds per year ($44 million), provides free access to period products to consumers, while compensating suppliers.

In addition, all educational institutions as well as other public centres, would need to make period products freely available in bathrooms.

The scheme is expected to be fully operational by 2022.

Bloody Brilliant!

This is a “proud day for Scotland”, said Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who was the instigator of the bill.

“This will make a massive difference to the lives of women and girls and everyone who menstruates,” Ms Lennon said.

As a first-term MSP, I had no idea how challenging it would be to a steer a member’s bill through Parliament. Whether you are an opposition MSP, a Minister or a campaign group, you can’t achieve anything alone. It wasn’t easy but together we got there. A big day for Scotland https://t.co/iV3PSUqXpw pic.twitter.com/naFT3fH8R5

— Monica Lennon (@MonicaLennon7) November 24, 2020

Stop Period Poverty

‘Period poverty’, where those who menstruate are not able to afford period products, has become a global issue. Some have to resort to using old clothes or newspaper or just nothing.

In most countries around the world, charities have been responsible for helping to alleviate ‘period poverty’ but some countries are taking further steps to help.

Other Countries Are Making Progress

Early this year, England and Wales introduced free period products in primary and secondary schools.

A handful of US states are providing free period products in schools and there is a campaign to scrap taxes on period items.

At home in Australia, GST is no longer charged on period products, since January 2019.

But Scotland is the first country to go all the way in making period products free and accessible to all.

Do you think period products should be free in Australia? Tell us in the comments below.

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26 Comments

- - mom62624 said
  - 18 Dec 2020
    2:17 pm
I think they should be free here in Australia and it would make such a difference.

- - P&M'smum said
  - 11 Dec 2020
    12:54 pm
Sounds great in theory but not sure if practical in the current economy, meaning loss of livelihood for some people.

- - shanika said
  - 04 Dec 2020
    1:28 pm
It would be nice.But what happen to the companies and its employees.

- - Kimeeja said
  - 02 Dec 2020
    12:49 pm
I think it’s a great initiative. Love to see that along with free needles for Diabetics etc, not just drug users.

- - BellaB said
  - 01 Dec 2020
    11:37 pm
Yes! It would have little impact on me, but there are girls and women for whom it would make a massive difference.

- - mom462929 said
  - 01 Dec 2020
    11:27 pm
A great initiative. Would be nice is Australia did the same.

- - ashna9 said
  - 01 Dec 2020
    9:20 pm
It would be nice but probably not realistic.

- - tessie said
  - 30 Nov 2020
    3:37 pm
Good on Scotland for doing something for women. Can you imagine how much money women will save from buying items for periods. I don’t need them anymore after having endometriosis for years (pads cost me a small fortune) my womb was lasered and I no longer suffer with periods. My eldest son said it costs him a small fortune on supplies because he has 3 daughters. Good old Scotland.

- - mom109199 said
  - 30 Nov 2020
    11:15 am
I think this is brilliant. After 43 years of more or less hemorrhaging because of endometriosis I finally got my lady bits taken out, so it would be a little late for me. I used to spend a fortune of period products. I wonder if they have a limit on how much product you get each time? Just food for thought. Before my surgery I could run through 5-10 super absorbent pads a day so I would need a hefty supply from the government. I think it would be fantastic if they were free for all those who need them.

- - rovermum said
  - 30 Nov 2020
    10:50 am
Absolutely and bloody brilliant. This is ground-breaking and about time.

- - mom450003 said
  - 29 Nov 2020
    9:21 pm
Good to hear. I think they now need to sell reusable cotton pads and have them at a good price so we don’t have to buy pads every month and also it will save the environment

- - anna213795 said
  - 29 Nov 2020
    6:33 am
I don’t think they are that expensive, it doesn’t worry me. I did have a laugh about the picture on this story. What’s with that? Could have just put a picture of some hygiene products

- - Ellen said
  - 29 Nov 2020
    5:58 am
I’m always confused by the idea. When the government funds them that means the government pays the producer right ? And we pay the government our taxes right ? So they’re not really free, we pay them anyway….

- - mom101628 said
  - 29 Nov 2020
    12:29 am
Can see the pros and cons with this – I feel for the companies that make these products [will they go out of business if no-one has to buy them anymore] and once upon a time we used to wear products that could be washed and reused many times over which seems to me to be a better idea than throwing more and more product into landfill.
- Ellen replied
  
  29 Nov 2020 , 6:15 am
  Yes, I remember my mum wearing those. What a difference would it make if everyone would use a piece of reusable fabric or the menstrual cup !
- - celebrity said
  - 28 Nov 2020
    3:34 pm
Of course they should be free, women are the backbone of this country!