Slap in the face
Media release
20 July 2010
Australia’s largest seniors’ organisation has called on the Coalition to axe its plan to cut the compulsory superannuation guarantee age limit from 75 years to 70 years, calling it “a slap in the face for older Australians”.
National Seniors Australia chief executive Michael O’Neill said the coalition’s savings plan announced today confirmed that older Australians would suffer under the changes.
“For many years we have campaigned for governments of all persuasion to increase the compulsory super age and treat all workers in the same way, regardless of their age,’’ he said.
“To see the Coalition now going entirely backwards on the issue is a slap in the face for older Australians and represents a blatant example of age discrimination.
“It sends the message that the Coalition is endorsing age discrimination in the super system.
“Older workers face enough obstacles as it is when they want to remain in the workforce with outdated workers’ compensation laws and other forms of age discrimination.
“The silly part of this decision is that the proposed increase in the levy would, according to the Treasury analysis, provide for an increase in revenue to Government.”
National Seniors calls on both the Government and the Coalition to scrap the super age limit entirely, saying it is ludicrous that once someone reaches a certain age, they should not be guaranteed superannuation even though they are still working.
National Seniors Australia’s Seniors Vote 2010 election campaigns highlights support for older workers as a key election demand.
With around 280,000 members, National Seniors is Australia’s largest consumer organisation for the over-50s and fourth largest group of its kind in the world.
20 July 2010
Coalition’s plan a slap in the face for older Australians
Australia’s largest seniors’ organisation has called on the Coalition to axe its plan to cut the compulsory superannuation guarantee age limit from 75 years to 70 years, calling it “a slap in the face for older Australians”.
National Seniors Australia chief executive Michael O’Neill said the coalition’s savings plan announced today confirmed that older Australians would suffer under the changes.
“For many years we have campaigned for governments of all persuasion to increase the compulsory super age and treat all workers in the same way, regardless of their age,’’ he said.
“To see the Coalition now going entirely backwards on the issue is a slap in the face for older Australians and represents a blatant example of age discrimination.
“It sends the message that the Coalition is endorsing age discrimination in the super system.
“Older workers face enough obstacles as it is when they want to remain in the workforce with outdated workers’ compensation laws and other forms of age discrimination.
“The silly part of this decision is that the proposed increase in the levy would, according to the Treasury analysis, provide for an increase in revenue to Government.”
National Seniors calls on both the Government and the Coalition to scrap the super age limit entirely, saying it is ludicrous that once someone reaches a certain age, they should not be guaranteed superannuation even though they are still working.
National Seniors Australia’s Seniors Vote 2010 election campaigns highlights support for older workers as a key election demand.
Media contact: 07 3233 9135
With around 280,000 members, National Seniors is Australia’s largest consumer organisation for the over-50s and fourth largest group of its kind in the world.
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