POWERED BY MOMENTUM MEDIA
Australia’s retirement system ranked third in world
The Australian retirement income system would improve if there was better integration with superannuation and the Age Pension, according to a report.
The ‘2019 Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index’ found the country’s retirement system placed third in the world behind the Netherlands and Denmark.
Australia was the only country to score a ‘B plus’ grade – a system that had a sound structure, with many good features, but had some areas for improvement that differentiated it from an A-grade system.
The index found the Australian system lagged in adequacy and long-term sustainability values but had high integrity.
The report recommended the country should:
- Moderate the asset test on the means-tested age pension to increase the net replacement rate for average income earners;
- Raise the level of household saving and reduce the level of household debt;
- Introduce a requirement that part of the retirement benefit must be taken as an income stream;
- Increase the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise; and
- Introduce a mechanism to increase the pension age as life expectancy continues to increase.
Mercer senior partner and author of the study, Dr David Knox, said systems globally were facing unprecedented life expectancy and rising pressure on public resources to support the health and welfare of older citizens.
He said policy makers needed to ensure long-term outcomes for retirees of the future.
“In Australia, we need better integration between the age pension and superannuation, which doesn’t currently provide enough incentive for individuals to contribute. In particular, the overall system needs to provide clear additional benefits from making extra contributions,” Knox said.
“There are recommendations that have been put forward for some time now, such as raising the pension age as life expectancy increases, and making adjustments to the asset test to improve retirement income for average earners.
“We’re on the cusp of strengthening our retirement system to receive the coveted A-grade. Hopefully the Review of Retirement Incomes will go a long way to improving the Australian system.”
Recommended for you
Jim Chalmers has defended changes to the Future Fund’s mandate, referring to himself as a “big supporter” of the sovereign wealth fund, amid fierce opposition from the Coalition, which has pledged to reverse any changes if it wins next year’s election.
In a new review of the country’s largest fund, a research house says it’s well placed to deliver attractive returns despite challenges.
Chant West analysis suggests super could be well placed to deliver a double-digit result by the end of the calendar year.
Specific valuation decisions made by the $88 billion fund at the beginning of the pandemic were “not adequate for the deteriorating market conditions”, according to the prudential regulator.
TOP PERFORMING FUNDS
ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND
Fund name
3y(%)pa
1
Spire Oaktree Opportunities XI Second Close
61.07 3 y p.a(%)
2
Spire Oaktree Opportunities XI First Close USD
59.21 3 y p.a(%)
3
DomaCom Lot 21 Chellaston Road Munno Para West SA 5115 Australia
31.56 3 y p.a(%)
4
Fidante Credit Suisse Global Private Equity
31.06 3 y p.a(%)
5
DomaCom 4/27 Crombie Avenue Bundall QLD 4217 Australia
26.81 3 y p.a(%)
