SMSFA warns of long-term risk with super speculation

“Superannuation was established to allow people to be self-sufficient in retirement and not as a cure-all for every public policy issue that arises,” said Ms Slattery.

“The Financial System Inquiry was extremely cognisant of the need to re-affirm this primary objective for superannuation when it called for ‘broad political agreement for, and to enshrine in legislation, the objectives of the superannuation system and report publicly on how policy proposals are consistent with achieving these objectives over the long term’.”

She also referred to comments made by the SMSF Association’s patron, Sir Anthony Mason, that confidence in superannuation “rests on the stability of assumptions on which the present system is based”.

“Confidence is at risk of being shaken when assumptions are disturbed by changes to the system,” he said.

Ms Slattery said both the FSI and Mr Mason make valid points.

“Continual speculation about how superannuation can be used can undermine the stability of the system and reduce people’s confidence in making long-term savings decisions,” she said.

Recent debates over the different uses for superannuation, Ms Slattery said, have highlighted the importance of bipartisan support for super as a retirement income goal.

There have been announcements from both major political parties suggesting a bipartisan approach could become a reality, she added.

“As illustrated in the recent Intergenerational Report, superannuation must play a large role in alleviating future government costs on age income support, health and aged care spending,” said Ms Slattery.

“This supports the need to maintain superannuation’s focus on providing retirement incomes.”