Free tampons in Victoria's schools promised by Labor as election nears

Victorian girls will receive free tampons and pads at state schools, if the Labor party is re-elected to government in the state election in nine days, the premier, Daniel Andrews, announced the policy on Thursday.

“It’s an Australian first. It’s the right thing to do,” Andrews said on Twitter.

The health minister, Jill Hennessy, said the free sanitary products would be available from term three next year.

“This is about giving female students the dignity they deserve, and helping families with the cost of living along the way,” she said in a statement.

“We want to break down the stigma of menstruation and ensure it does not impact on a student’s ability to be comfortable at school and ready to learn.”

The education department will work with schools to determine the best method to dispense the items.

Hennessy acknowledged that while getting a period is a normal part of life for female students, it can cause inconvenience, frustration and embarrassment – especially if it starts unexpectedly when at school.

Free sanitary products are already available in schools in the United States and Scotland.

The policy announcement has attracted a mixed response on social media.

“Excellent. (Of course, teachers have been buying supplies of sanitary products for students for decades.),” Judith Ridge tweeted.

“Daniel you are throwing money around like it is confetti. Every time you do this we the taxpayer has to find the money,” Vass responded.

Earlier this week, in an appeal to young voters, the Andrews government promised to install power-charging ports at inner city Melbourne train stations including Flagstaff, Southern Cross, Flinders Street, Parliament, North Melbourne, Richmond and South Yarra.