While the Retirement Income Report’s conclusion is based on retirement incomes growing by consumer price index (CPI) and not indexation to wages, middle-income earners would want to maintain relative economic value and this would require a high superannuation guarantee (SG) rate, according to Rice Warner.
The research house said while some commentators argued the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic precluded increasing the SG rate, the current economic situation was potentially changing the optimal timing and speed of an increase. It said, for example, it could move up in increments of 0.25% instead of 0.5% but that this should not be confused with changing the optimal long-term level of SG.
The report said the current SG level of 9.5% should provide a reasonable income at retirement, replacing 65% to 75% of pre-retirement earnings for middle-income earners. However, this required some changes to make better use of retirement assets – spending more on retirement incomes and leaving smaller bequest.
Rice Warner said a phased SG move to 12% would be beneficial because:
Rice Warner pointed to the deduction of the report that the Australian retirement income system was effective, sound, and its costs were broadly sustainable. While it did not need a “knockdown and rebuild” major changes were needed to calibrate the system to meet the proposed objectives.
Rice Warner said the system could be improved through:
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