A Melbourne city councillor has made a personal financial pledge to combat period poverty after her colleagues were deadlocked on whether to increase support for a leading menstrual charity.
Council Vote Ends in Deadlock
City of Melbourne councillor Karen Wheatland sought official backing at the council's meeting on December 9, 2025 to boost the city's existing rebate scheme for sustainable menstrual products by $1500 and to promote a donation basket program. The motion also included registering with the Share the Dignity Council Cares program.
The vote resulted in a 5-5 tie, forcing Mayor Katy Mair to use her casting vote. The division centred on whether supporting such initiatives was a legitimate responsibility of local government.
The Debate Over Public Funds and Responsibility
Councillor Jennifer Spanbroek put forward an alternative motion that removed the formal registration with Share the Dignity. She questioned where such support would end, highlighting the many other charitable organisations the council could potentially align with.
"We have a fiduciary duty to ensure that public funds are allocated to projects that deliver broad and equitable benefits to the entire community," Cr Spanbroek argued.
Councillor Crawford Yorke echoed these concerns, stating he believed the issue was one for State or Federal governments. "It's a good cause but there's a lot of good causes out there. Do we start subsidising toilet paper for people?" he asked.
In response, Cr Wheatland pointed out the council already provides toilet paper in its public facilities. "It is not a local government responsibility, I get that," she said. "It is not a State or a Federal responsibility. It is a responsibility of us as human beings to support each other."
A Personal Pledge and the Scale of Need
Following the debate, Cr Wheatland declared that if her proposal was not approved, she would personally donate one month's sitting fee to advance the cause, calling the proposed $1500 rebate increase a "drop in the ocean".
She contextualised the spending by comparing it to other council expenditures. "The budget in 25-26 saw us spend $340,000 on compostable FOGO bags, which we give out to all our residents ... (and) nearly $200,000 on compostable dog bags," she stated.
The need for support is clear. Just over half of City of Melbourne residents who participated in a 2024 Share the Dignity survey reported difficulty affording period products. Since 2022, the city has offered a rebate of up to $50 per person on eligible reusable menstrual products, which comes from an annual grant pool of about $7000 shared with rebates for items like worm farms and compost bins.
Share the Dignity, a Queensland-based Australian charity founded in 2015, works to ensure people who menstruate and are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or poverty have access to essential period products.
