Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday the Prime Minister told the country that he has no appetite for vanity projects. If this is true, he should stand up in parliament today and say that he will not cut workers' super. He should do this because the Liberal Party plan to cut superannuation is a direct and a deliberate breach of a solemn pledge that he made to the people of Australia before the last election. He should also do it because it is not fair. Australian workers currently get superannuation at the rate of 9½ per cent. That means that the average Australian retires with $180,000 in retirement savings. For women, it's much less: $120,000. The Prime Minister seems to think that this is enough for ordinary Australians. But in two years the Prime Minister amasses more in superannuation than the average Australian retires on. This is because every member of this place and every public servant gets 15.4 per cent in superannuation.

The Liberals argue that $180,000 is enough for ordinary Australians but that they should get much more for themselves. How can any of us argue this to the retail workers of Australia? The Prime Minister should stand up today and say that he will not cut— (Time expired)