THE Chief Minister has been branded ‘disingenuous’ over government plans to scrap a previous proposal she brought as a Senator to remove GST on period products.
But Deputy Kristina Moore has hit back at the claims, saying there is a ‘more effective way’ to address period poverty.
She said her government had helped to provide free menstrual products ‘at more than 14 locations across Jersey’, arguing this had surpassed her previous aims.
Deputy Moore was responding to comments from Reform Jersey’s Deputy Lyndsay Feltham who said it was ‘disappointing’ and ‘concerning that the Chief Minister can change her principles so quickly’ after the then Senator secured the support of the former Assembly to remove the 5% GST on period products last year.
At the time, she pointed out that Jersey was the only place left in the British Isles still to have what has become known as the ‘tampon tax’.
The rescindment proposal, which was put forward by Treasury Minister Ian Gorst and is due to be debated next month, explains that ministers feel they have ‘surpassed’ this aim by providing free products in some locations around the Island instead.
In December 2022, Deputy Feltham successfully proposed an amendment to the Government Plan which established the need for a full debate before the commitment to remove sales tax on menstrual products could be reversed.
Deputy Feltham said she agreed that the free menstrual products currently on offer ‘may well help people suffering from period poverty’ but explained that the initiative ‘relies on you finding yourself in one of those free locations at the right time’.
Describing GST on menstrual products as a ‘discriminatory tax’, Deputy Feltham said that there was a need to ensure that the government ‘isn’t revenue-raising from women’s periods’.
‘It’s an issue of principle and an issue of respect,’ she said.
‘Reversing this decision sets a worrying precedent for ministers disrespecting decisions made by elected officials.’
Deputy Moore said: ‘I am disappointed at recent comments from Deputy Feltham over my position on GST on period products.
‘As I made clear to the States Assembly during the debate in April last year, it was never my position that it would be necessary to remove GST if period products were available for free.
‘At the time of the debate many of us recognised that making period products free could be a better solution than removing GST.’
She added: ‘I believe that this Council of Ministers has tackled this issue, not with assurances but with deeds.
‘We have made period products free at more than 14 locations across Jersey. We have supplied more than 110,000 to Islanders so far and we are continuing to increase the supply as we widen the scheme to include public toilets from late August.
‘That is a more effective way to address period poverty than removing GST, a saving which experience shows retailers might never pass on to Islanders.’
