Newcastle Council Approves Free Period-Product Pilot in Public Buildings

The City of Newcastle council voted unanimously to launch a 12‑month trial that would provide free menstrual products in selected council facilities, including public toilets and libraries. The pilot, championed by Labor councillor Paige Johnson, treats period products as essential as toilet paper and aims to address period poverty, which affects emotional health, school and work attendance, and social participation.

The trial will use Share the Dignity vending machines, an Australian charity that already supplies two machines in Newcastle libraries. Each machine costs about $25,000 to install and maintain for four years, and council staff estimate the pilot would require roughly $200,000 to equip eight women's toilets. A 2024 NSW Legislative Council inquiry found that 64 % of Australians who menstruate struggle to afford period products, underscoring the need for such initiatives.

Councillors will receive a report within six months to assess locations, benefits, and costs, with a view to potentially expanding the service beyond the pilot period.