Premier Daniel Andrews has pledged to make free tampons and sanitary pads widely available in the Australian state of Victoria as part of his government’s bid to win over female voters.
The move comes as the incumbent centre-left Labor government faces a major challenge from independent candidates and the left-wing Australian Greens to win over progressive-leaning voters in electorates in the city of Melbourne.In fact, in a bid to win over the youth vote, the Greens have promised free contraception as part of its election platform.
Meanwhile, the Andrews’ program, which will cost taxpayers $23 million (US$15.40 million), will see 1,500 pad and tampon machines set up at about 700 public sites including public hospitals, courts, TAFEs, public libraries, and train stations.
It will also build on the Labor government’s Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Plan 2022-30 which pushes for gender equality, more contraception, and abortion services.
