Opposition won't repeal superannuation guarantee increase

8 November 2011
| By Tim Stewart |
image
image
expand image

superannuation guaranteeThe Opposition has indicated that a Coalition Government will not seek to repeal the increase in the superannuation guarantee (SG) from 9 to 12 per cent.

However, the Opposition continues to maintain its position that it will repeal the Minerals Resource Rent Tax if elected.

Consequently, the Opposition has opened itself up to questions about how it would pay for the reduced tax revenue that would result from a 3 per cent increase to the SG (since the extra money in superannuation will be taxed at the concessional rate of 15 per cent).

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Superannuation Bill Shorten was quick to accuse the Opposition of "backflipping" on the issue, and demanded that the Opposition explain how it planned to fund an increased SG.

"The incremental increase in the SG rate is projected to cost $740 million over the forward estimates. If the Opposition's policy is to rescind the mining tax, how are they going to pay for the increase in compulsory superannuation?" asked Shorten.

The change in the Opposition's policy was welcomed by Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees chief executive Fiona Reynolds, who pointed to an Essential Media survey that found 70 per cent of all Australians support the increase in the SG to 12 per cent.

More tellingly for the Opposition, the survey also found that 69 per cent of Liberal/National Party voters supported the policy.

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 11 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 11 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 12 hours ago