Govt’s report rejection “out of step with reality” for women

21 August 2018
| By Hannah |
image
image
expand image

The Turnbull Government’s rejection of key Senate recommendations on reforming super last week is a “setback for the retirement outcomes of Australian women”, the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) yesterday warned.

The Government rejected all of the key recommendations of the A husband is not a retirement plan: Achieving economic security for women in retirement report, which was released by the Senate Economics Referenced Committee. The reforms rejected included:

  • Removing the $450 monthly payment threshold on super;
  • Bringing forward raising the super guarantee to 12 per cent;
  • Super on paid parental leave; and
  • Better targeting of super tax reforms.

The Government pointed to its 2016 Budget reform to extend the spouse offset for superannuation contributions and allow people with super balances under $500,000 to make significant catch-up contributions.

AIST chief executive, Eva Scheerlinck, said that rejecting the Senate report’s reforms and instead emphasising those in the 2016 Budget “was inadequate and out of step with reality”.

“Extending the spouse offset and allowing higher catch-up contributions will do nothing to help ordinary working women who may not have the spare cash to put more into super, nor will it do anything to help divorced and single women who experience some of the poorest outcomes in retirement,” Scheerlinck said.

She also said it was “disappointing” that the Government had taken over two years to respond to the report.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

11 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

11 months 1 week ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

11 months 1 week ago

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 Co...

1 day 16 hours ago

Demand from institutional investors was the main driver of growth in Australia’s responsible investment (RI) market in 2023, as the industry continued to gain momentum....

1 day 16 hours ago

In a new review of the country’s largest fund, a research house says it’s well placed to deliver attractive returns despite challenges....

1 day 17 hours ago