Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

To the member who asked the question, I remind her first and foremost that superannuation is compulsory in this country because of a Labor initiative and a Labor plan, resisted every step of the way by the Liberal Party and the subject of a mammoth and irresponsible fear campaign. That is something the member would be familiar with, having been a member of this parliament during another irresponsible fear campaign over carbon pricing. There is only compulsory superannuation because of the actions of Labor. Having invented compulsory superannuation for this country, we have seen the benefits that it brings working people as well as the ballast it gives our economy. It creates a huge pool of national savings and that pool of national savings is very important, particularly during difficult economic times, and was very important during the global financial crisis. We, as the party of superannuation—the party that invented it—will always be the party that nurtures it and nurtures it well, which is why we are increasing superannuation contributions from nine to 12 per cent and why we will also make the right decisions to ensure that the superannuation scheme in our country meets our nation's needs.

If the member opposite is truly concerned about superannuation and the plight of people in her electorate who are low-income earners, let me give her an example of that. It might be a mum who has been at home with two children—maybe one school-age, one pre-school age. She is deciding to go back to work part-time. Because she is a part-time worker, she is not a high-income earner, but she will want something in her superannuation when she retires. Maybe she might consider the position of that electorate member of hers—

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