Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Whilst I quite like the member for Whitlam—given that he was one of the class of 2010 and we acknowledged our collective anniversaries last Friday—I think in this last 10 years he's also spent a bit of time at acting class. That was a very good performance but, as usual for those opposite, it lacked any substance. And, as usual with those opposite, what you do is you don't listen to what they say, because it usually has nothing of value; you look at what they do. That's the difference. They do very little. They talk a lot and do very little.

But this government, since we've come to government, has been delivering. We've been delivering on a transparent, competitive and efficient superannuation system which, as the member for Whitlam quite rightly pointed out, very successfully underpins our economy, and also underpins people's wealth creation and their planning for retirement. We're focused on ensuring that Australians can reap the full benefits of that superannuation system, and ensuring that members of our super funds and everyday Australians are a priority at the forefront of all decision-making processes with respect to superannuation.

That's why, since we've come to government, we've passed legislation to improve the efficiency through strengthening the powers of the regulator to deal with underperforming funds. We've capped fees on low-balance accounts, which has helped around seven million Australians to save around $570 million in fees in the first year alone. We've banned exit fees on all superannuation accounts, and for the first time ever the ATO has the power to proactively unite low-balance, inactive accounts with active accounts. This has seen the ATO proactively reunite almost 2.53 million accounts with almost $3.2 billion in savings.

This government, surprisingly to the member for Whitlam, won't be supporting this motion and allowing the member for Whitlam to distil a complex issue down to simple sound bites, as those opposite usually try to do. We know that the issues are more complex. Instead, we're focused on delivering a better superannuation system for everyday Australians. I'm talking about those people who work in our local schools, in our local small and family businesses, like Beenleigh Glass or Luv a Coffee, or on the production lines at places like Teys Australia in Beenleigh or ATP Science at Loganholme. It's these people, these everyday Australians, who now have 9.5 per cent of their wages effectively foregone, going into superannuation, because that was part of the trade-off for setting up super and future increases as well. We want to see them enjoy a dignified and comfortable retirement.

This week, we're getting on with the job of delivering for the Australian people. In the Senate we'll resume debate on the your super your choice Bill. This bill will provide choice of fund for more Australians employed under federal enterprise agreements and workplace agreements. I note that those opposite who have just waxed lyrical about the importance of superannuation for five minutes, and particularly the member for Whitlam, made no mention of this piece of legislation. It is a piece of legislation that this government has introduced to ensure that working Australians have genuine choice of superannuation fund.

I've spoken plenty of times in this place previously outlining the impediments to Australians who, under workplace agreements or other industrial instruments, do not have a choice of fund. If they believe in choice and they say that people should be free to choose, support this legislation, Member for Whitlam as the relevant shadow minister. He has made no commitment here in this place today. As I said at the outset, don't listen to what they say; have a look at what they do. If they genuinely believe in choice of superannuation and the importance of superannuation, back this legislation in the Senate and let Australians have true choice of their superannuation funds.

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