News
Superannuation & retirement
Palmer deal on mining tax will slash retirement savings of millions of Australians
02 September 2014
Clive Palmer's disgraceful deal with the Federal Government over the mining tax repeal will cut the retirement savings of millions of Australians. ACTU President Ged Kearney said Mr Palmer's back down on the Low Income Super Contribution (LISC) and Superannuation Guarantee targets the lowest income earners. "The low income super…
Unions welcome today's publication of the interim report of the Financial System Inquiry. ACTU Assistant Secretary Tim Lyons said unions have long argued that Australia needs a more efficient financial system. "Australia needs a financial system geared to supporting job-rich investment and better retirement incomes rather than generating huge profits…
The retirement savings of almost 3.6 million workers, including 2.2 million women will be spared from Tony Abbott's cuts following news today that the Palmer United Party will vote to save the low income super contribution. ACTU President Ged Kearney welcomed Mr Palmer's announcement and said it was a huge…
The retirement savings of millions of low paid Australians is under threat from Tony Abbott's harsh cuts. Each year the Government pays a small amount into the superannuation accounts of low paid workers earning less than $37,000 pa. It is called the Low Income Super Contribution (LISC) and while the…
The bank owned super funds have continued their efforts to undermine and dismantle consumer protections which ensure a transparent quality filter will apply for selection of default funds. Click here to read this on the Industry Super Australia website The Financial Services Council, on behalf of the bank owned super…
Industry Super Australia today launched Funding Australia: Superannuation and the Financial System, a groundbreaking study that charts the course of super’s rise and rise over the last twenty years. Click here to read this on the Industry Super Australia website Underpinned by new and innovative analysis, the paper comprehensively illustrates…
Making a difference with ethical superannuation investments
09 January 2014
Superannuation funds are increasingly flexing their muscle through considerations of ESG in investment decision making as a result of lobbying from trustees and members themselves (ESG refers to environmental, social and corporate governance issues). Tobacco companies are not the only ones seeing investors depart their firms as a result. Recently,…
Trustees vital to superannuation success
13 December 2013
You may have seen that in The Australian today we're letting people know that our trustee system is not only the envy of the world, but an economic and public policy success story that has bipartisan and community-wide support. Arguably it is its compulsory nature that has made super what…
The ASU is continuing to voice its opposition to regressive changes to superannuation being delivered by the new Abbott Government. Today the Senate Economics Legislation Committee is hearing submissions on the repeal of the Mining Tax, which includes removal of the Low Income Super Contribution (LISC) and a delay to…
Productivity Commission cracks the whip on older workers
22 November 2013
The ACTU today rejected a recommendation by the Federal Government's top policy agency to lift the retirement age to 70, as out of touch with the reality of life for Australian workers. ACTU President Ged Kearney said the proposal by the Productivity Commission ignores the reality that while life expectancy…