David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services. If a family farm or business asset is held in a self-managed super fund as part of a diverse portfolio, meeting liquidity requirements, could increases in asset value during the financial year see that family pay additional tax on the paper gain under the government's superannuation changes?

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

I thank the Leader of the National Party for his question. I can't be clearer. Yes, it is true that there are going to be a very small number of individuals' funds who are going to be paying more money under this arrangement. Yes, there are. We wouldn't be doing it otherwise, and the object of the change is to ensure, on the one hand, that we maintain the integrity of our superannuation system, and, on the other hand, that we also make a contribution to the $1 trillion worth of debt that those opposite have left us.

In relation to any self-managed superannuation fund that has assets in excess of $3 million, the earnings on those assets under $3 million will continue to attract the concessional tax rate of 15 per cent. The earnings on the assets above $3 million will still attract a very concessional tax rate, but not as generous as existed before the change. That's the point—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Page! The Leader of the Nationals!

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

That is the point, Mr Speaker.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, members on my left!

The member for Page is warned.

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

I'm asked about cash flow. These are very simple concepts: earnings above $3 million, a concessional tax but a tax rate of 30 per cent; earnings on assets below $3 million, 15 per cent. It is still concessional. The reason that we are doing it is to ensure the integrity of the superannuation system and to plug the $1 trillion worth of debt that the mob over there have left us.

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! When the House comes to order, I'll hear from—

The member for Groom will cease interjecting immediately.