Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has demanded the superannuation industry “stop lecturing the government” ahead of an inquiry into retirement incomes.
Industry Super Australia has called on the government to reconsider the appointment of Deborah Ralston to the inquiry, because she has previously lobbied for “voluntary” super for low-income earners.
The treasurer said Dr Ralston would bring great expertise to the inquiry and had the government’s full support.
“Any time ideas are raised that goes against their vested interests they seem to complain very loudly about it,” he told Sky News on Monday.
“They should just make a submission like everyone else to this inquiry and stop lecturing the government as to who we should appoint to these panels.”
Dr Ralston wrote to the treasurer in July to propose the inquiry consider allowing low-income earners to receive super in wages, arguing increasing contributions to 12 per cent would force them to forgo too much money.
Her letter was sent on behalf of the Alliance for a Fairer Retirement System.
Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers described Dr Ralston as a “prominent, dedicated and well known campaigner against the Labor Party”.
“Labor doesn’t intend to take the compulsory out of compulsory super,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
“The only party who wants to mess with superannuation and wants to take the compulsory out of super is the Liberal Party.
“They pretend they don’t want to do that but then appoint a panel of this nature that shows their true hand and colours.”
AAP
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