Pads and tampons will soon be free in Scotland in a world first

Women in Scotland will be pleased to know that they won't have to pay for pads and tampons soon, as the nation is set to be the first country in the world to make period products free.

Scotland has already introduced free period products in schools, colleges and universities and are looking at expanding the progressive approach to periods.

A bill that would see period products offered for free across the nation has been back by Scottish MPs and has now passed its first vote in Scottish Parliament.

Proposed by Scottish MP Monica Lennon, she first submitted the draft proposal in 2017 and has pushed the bill forward in the years since in a bid for "period dignity".

"These are not luxury items," she said, ABC reported.

"They are indeed essential and no one in Scotland should have to go without period products.

The scheme is likely to be modelled on a card-based system, where people register for a free card that they use in exchange for period products at public places like pharmacies, community centres and youth clubs.

The scheme is expected to cost around $47.5 million annually.

Scotland would be the first country to offer free pads and tampons to the public, a major step when many nations still tax period products as 'luxury items'.

"We are changing the culture and it's really exciting that other countries right around the world are watching very closely to see what we do," Lennon said.

Pads and tampons are currently taxed at 5 per cent next door in the UK, and though there have been plans to end the tax, no moves have been made.

Meanwhile here in Australia pads and tampons are not taxed, but they're definitely not free.

Australia ditched the 'tampon tax' at the start of 2019, following years of period products being taxed at 10 per cent as 'luxury items'.

But many women still can't afford period products, especially homeless women and girls.

They are often forced to go without or attempt to get by with makeshift solutions that can be unhygienic and dangerous.

Charities and organisations across Australia regularly accept donations of pads and tampons to help women in need at homelessness and domestic violence shelters.