Decision details

By Councillor Ellsmore

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         period poverty refers to the inability to access menstrual products or hygiene facilities, and education about menstruation. There are social, economic, and cultural barriers to menstrual products, sanitation, and education;

(ii)        research about period poverty is limited, however evidence shows that poor menstrual management can affect people's emotional and physical health and influence their behaviour such as school and work attendance, participation in sports and socialising in public places;

(iii)       the cost of living crisis is making it more difficult for many to afford basic items, such as sanitary products;

(iv)       a 2023 YouGov survey reported that over 57 per cent of respondents were finding it more difficult to buy period products such as sanitary pads and tampons;

(v)        Period Pride Report: Bloody Big Survey Findings, Australia’s largest survey on attitudes and experiences of periods commissioned by Share the Dignity reported that 22 per cent of respondents had to improvise on period products due to cost. As well as that 48 per cent at least sometimes missed class due to their periods, 65 per cent missed sport due to their periods, 40 per cent at least sometimes called in sick to work due to their periods and 51 per cent missed out on socialising with their friends because of their periods;

(vi)       period poverty disproportionately affects LGBTQIA+ and First Nations peoples;

(vii)      every state and territory government has rolled out free period products to public high schools in order to alleviate period poverty; and

(viii)    Inner West Council and Melbourne City Council have recently installed free period product dispensaries in a number of council facilities. These initiatives have been low cost, and very well received;

(B)       Council:

(i)         commits to end period poverty;

(ii)        commits to launch an initial 12-month pilot of free period care product services and dispensaries across no less than ten council locations within the Local Government Area; and

(iii)       as part of the trial, commits to work with relevant community groups and advocates to rollout a public education program aimed at removing stigmas and taboos towards periods; and

(C)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         provide advice to the Council about suitable locations for the trial and the cost of the trial. This should include locations in Council buildings, public toilets, and near areas of low-income housing, including public housing estates;

(ii)        consult with relevant community, school, sports, advocates for ending period poverty and or health organisations about developing the pilot; and

(iii)       include in the advice opportunities to extend the trial, through the development of a rebate scheme to incentivise households to purchase reusable sanitary products.

Note – at the meeting of Council, the content of the original Notice of Motion was varied by Councillor Ellsmore. Subsequently it was –

Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Scott –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         period poverty refers to the inability to access menstrual products or hygiene facilities, and education about menstruation. There are social, economic, and cultural barriers to menstrual products, sanitation, and education;

(ii)        research about period poverty is limited, however evidence shows that poor menstrual management can affect people's emotional and physical health and influence their behaviour such as school and work attendance, participation in sports and socialising in public places;

(iii)       the cost of living crisis is making it more difficult for many to afford basic items, such as sanitary products;

(iv)       a 2023 YouGov survey reported that over 57 per cent of respondents were finding it more difficult to buy period products such as sanitary pads and tampons;

(v)        Period Pride Report: Bloody Big Survey Findings, Australia’s largest survey on attitudes and experiences of periods commissioned by Share the Dignity reported that 22 per cent of respondents had to improvise on period products due to cost. As well as that 48 per cent at least sometimes missed class due to their periods, 65 per cent missed sport due to their periods, 40 per cent at least sometimes called in sick to work due to their periods and 51 per cent missed out on socialising with their friends because of their periods;

(vi)       period poverty disproportionately affects LGBTQIA+ and First Nations peoples;

(vii)      every state and territory government has rolled out free period products to public high schools in order to alleviate period poverty; and

(viii)    Inner West Council and Melbourne City Council have recently installed free period product dispensaries in a number of council facilities. These initiatives have been low cost, and very well received;

(B)       Council further note:

(i)         the City has recently established Food Support Grants which are targeted at increasing access and improving the supply of healthy food for our communities;

(ii)        the City plays an important role in increasing community access to basic necessities, which includes menstruation products;

(iii)       as part of the response for vulnerable communities during Covid-19, the City provided flexibility in grant programs and donations for essential products including funding voucher programs and funding low cost and free supermarkets in the local area who provide sanitary products;

(iv)       outreach services, mobile voluntary services and homelessness drop in centres working with vulnerable communities in the City of Sydney Local Government Area all have period products available which they provide to communities as needed;

(v)        drop in centres such as Wayside Chapel also have period products available and provide these as needed;

(vi)       many of these organisations acquire these products through funding, donations or via brokerage;

(vii)      NSW Health and St Vincent Homeless Health have period products available during clinics and assertive outreach on a needs basis. Clinics and outreach occur daily across the City of Sydney Local Government Area;

(viii)    Kirketon Road Centre in Kings Cross (NSW Health) also have information and products available as needed;

(ix)       the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) funded women only crisis services will also have them available;

(x)        DCJ Homelessness Services provide information and period products as required on outreach; and

(xi)       the NSW Department of Education, earlier this year, installed 4,600 units in NSW public schools (including schools in the City of Sydney Local Government Area) providing access to free sanitary products to students;

(C)       Council:

(i)         commits to end period poverty;

(ii)        commits to launch an initial 12-month pilot of free period care product services and dispensaries across no less than ten council locations within the Local Government Area; and

(iii)       as part of the trial, commits to work with relevant community groups and advocates to rollout a public education program aimed at removing stigmas and taboos towards periods; and

(D)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         provide advice to the Council about suitable locations for the trial and the cost of the trial. This should include locations in Council buildings, public toilets, libraries, pools, community centres and sporting ground change rooms, and near areas of low-income housing, including public housing estates;

(ii)        consult with relevant community, school, sports, advocates for ending period poverty and or health organisations about developing the pilot;

(iii)       include in the advice opportunities to extend the trial, through the development of a rebate scheme to incentivise households to purchase reusable sanitary products; and

(iv)       commence work on this program in September 2023, with a report back at the December 2023 Council meeting.

Variation. At the request of Councillor Davis, and by consent, the motion was varied as follows –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         period poverty refers to the inability to access menstrual products or hygiene facilities, and education about menstruation. There are social, economic, and cultural barriers to menstrual products, sanitation, and education;

(ii)        research about period poverty is limited, however evidence shows that poor menstrual management can affect people's emotional and physical health and influence their behaviour such as school and work attendance, participation in sports and socialising in public places;

(iii)       the cost of living crisis is making it more difficult for many to afford basic items, such as sanitary products;

(iv)       a 2023 YouGov survey reported that over 57 per cent of respondents were finding it more difficult to buy period products such as sanitary pads and tampons;

(v)        Period Pride Report: Bloody Big Survey Findings, Australia’s largest survey on attitudes and experiences of periods commissioned by Share the Dignity reported that 22 per cent of respondents had to improvise on period products due to cost. As well as that 48 per cent at least sometimes missed class due to their periods, 65 per cent missed sport due to their periods, 40 per cent at least sometimes called in sick to work due to their periods and 51 per cent missed out on socialising with their friends because of their periods;

(vi)       period poverty disproportionately affects LGBTQIA+ and First Nations peoples;

(vii)      single use period products such as pads and tampons can have a significant cost and environmental impact over a lifetime;

(a)        a 2022 analysis by Choice estimated that over a lifetime, single use period products can cost more than $9,000 and add between 5,000 to 15,000 pads or tampons into landfill; and 

(b)        Global Citizen estimates that it can take 500 to 800 years for the most popular single use period product to break down;

(viii)    switching to reusable period care products can reduce waste in landfill and the amount of plastic in the environment and uses far fewer resources and chemicals in the production and transportation of the products;

(ix)       every state and territory government has rolled out free period products to public high schools in order to alleviate period poverty; and

(x)        Inner West Council and Melbourne City Council have recently installed free period product dispensaries in a number of council facilities. These initiatives have been low cost, and very well received;

(B)       Council further note:

(i)         the City has recently established Food Support Grants which are targeted at increasing access and improving the supply of healthy food for our communities;

(ii)        the City plays an important role in increasing community access to basic necessities, which includes menstruation products;

(iii)       as part of the response for vulnerable communities during Covid-19, the City provided flexibility in grant programs and donations for essential products including funding voucher programs and funding low cost and free supermarkets in the local area who provide sanitary products;

(iv)       outreach services, mobile voluntary services and homelessness drop in centres working with vulnerable communities in the City of Sydney Local Government Area all have period products available which they provide to communities as needed;

(v)        drop in centres such as Wayside Chapel also have period products available and provide these as needed;

(vi)       many of these organisations acquire these products through funding, donations or via brokerage;

(vii)      NSW Health and St Vincent Homeless Health have period products available during clinics and assertive outreach on a needs basis. Clinics and outreach occur daily across the City of Sydney Local Government Area;

(viii)    Kirketon Road Centre in Kings Cross (NSW Health) also have information and products available as needed;

(ix)       the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) funded women only crisis services will also have them available;

(x)        DCJ Homelessness Services provide information and period products as required on outreach; and

(xi)       the NSW Department of Education, earlier this year, installed 4,600 units in NSW public schools (including schools in the City of Sydney Local Government Area) providing access to free sanitary products to students;

(C)       Council:

(i)         calls on all levels of government to commit to ending period poverty in collaboration with relevant organisations;

(ii)        commits to launch an initial 12-month pilot of free period care product services and dispensaries across no less than ten council locations within the Local Government Area; and

(iii)       as part of the trial, commits to work with relevant community groups and advocates to rollout a public education program aimed at removing stigmas and taboos towards periods;

(D)       the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the State and Federal Ministers for Women and Ministers for Health, calling for greater investment and collaboration with relevant community groups and advocates to roll out a public education program aimed at removing stigmas and taboos towards periods; and

(E)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         provide advice to the Council about suitable locations for the trial and the cost of the trial. This should include locations in Council buildings, public toilets, libraries, pools, community centres and sporting ground change rooms, and near areas of low-income housing, including public housing estates;

(ii)        consult with relevant community, school, sports, advocates for ending period poverty and/or health organisations about community education campaigns and developing programs or pilots addressing period poverty;

(iii)       include in the advice opportunities to extend the trial, through the development of a rebate scheme to incentivise households to purchase reusable sanitary products; and

(iv)       commence work on this program in September 2023, with a report back at the December 2023 Council meeting.

Amendment. Moved by Councillor Davis, seconded by Councillor Worling –

That the motion be amended such that it read as follows –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         period poverty refers to the inability to access menstrual products or hygiene facilities, and education about menstruation. There are social, economic, and cultural barriers to menstrual products, sanitation, and education;

(ii)        research about period poverty is limited, however evidence shows that poor menstrual management can affect people's emotional and physical health and influence their behaviour such as school and work attendance, participation in sports and socialising in public places;

(iii)       the cost of living crisis is making it more difficult for many to afford basic items, such as sanitary products;

(iv)       a 2023 YouGov survey reported that over 57 per cent of respondents were finding it more difficult to buy period products such as sanitary pads and tampons;

(v)        Period Pride Report: Bloody Big Survey Findings, Australia’s largest survey on attitudes and experiences of periods commissioned by Share the Dignity reported that 22 per cent of respondents had to improvise on period products due to cost. As well as that 48 per cent at least sometimes missed class due to their periods, 65 per cent missed sport due to their periods, 40 per cent at least sometimes called in sick to work due to their periods and 51 per cent missed out on socialising with their friends because of their periods;

(vi)       period poverty disproportionately affects LGBTQIA+ and First Nations peoples;

(vii)      single use period products such as pads and tampons can have a significant cost and environmental impact over a lifetime;

(a)        a 2022 analysis by Choice estimated that over a lifetime, single use period products can cost more than $9,000 and add between 5,000 to 15,000 pads or tampons into landfill; and 

(b)        Global Citizen estimates that it can take 500 to 800 years for the most popular single use period product to break down;

(viii)    switching to reusable period care products can reduce waste in landfill and the amount of plastic in the environment and uses far fewer resources and chemicals in the production and transportation of the products;

(ix)       every state and territory government has rolled out free period products to public high schools in order to alleviate period poverty; and

(x)        Inner West Council and Melbourne City Council have recently installed free period product dispensaries in a number of council facilities. These initiatives have been low cost, and very well received;

(B)       Council further note:

(i)         the City has recently established Food Support Grants which are targeted at increasing access and improving the supply of healthy food for our communities;

(ii)        the City plays an important role in increasing community access to basic necessities, which includes menstruation products;

(iii)       as part of the response for vulnerable communities during Covid-19, the City provided flexibility in grant programs and donations for essential products including funding voucher programs and funding low cost and free supermarkets in the local area who provide sanitary products;

(iv)       outreach services, mobile voluntary services and homelessness drop in centres working with vulnerable communities in the City of Sydney Local Government Area all have period products available which they provide to communities as needed;

(v)        drop in centres such as Wayside Chapel also have period products available and provide these as needed;

(vi)       many of these organisations acquire these products through funding, donations or via brokerage;

(vii)      NSW Health and St Vincent Homeless Health have period products available during clinics and assertive outreach on a needs basis. Clinics and outreach occur daily across the City of Sydney Local Government Area;

(viii)    Kirketon Road Centre in Kings Cross (NSW Health) also have information and products available as needed;

(ix)       the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) funded women only crisis services will also have them available;

(x)        DCJ Homelessness Services provide information and period products as required on outreach; and

(xi)       the NSW Department of Education, earlier this year, installed 4,600 units in NSW public schools (including schools in the City of Sydney Local Government Area) providing access to free sanitary products to students;

(C)       Council calls on all levels of government to commit to ending period poverty in collaboration with relevant organisations;

(D)       the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the State and Federal Ministers for Women and Ministers for Health, calling for greater investment and collaboration with relevant community groups and advocates to roll out a public education program aimed at removing stigmas and taboos towards periods; and

(E)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         assess the need for and costs associated with a pilot or program providing free or subsidised period care products (including reusable period care products) in Council buildings, public toilets, libraries, pools, community centres and sporting ground change rooms, and near areas of low-income housing, including public housing estates;

(ii)        consult with relevant community, school, sports, advocates for ending period poverty and/or health organisations about community education campaigns and developing programs or pilots addressing period poverty; and

(iii)       report back to Council via CEO Update.

The amendment was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (6)           The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Gannon, Kok and Worling

Noes (3)          Councillors Ellsmore, Scott and Weldon.

Amendment carried.

The substantive motion was carried unanimously.

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