Hockey’s super proposal a ‘double-edged sword’

“People just borrow up to their limits, use their house to borrow even more and waste their money,” said Mr Gillham.

“Therefore we need to keep as much money in their super as possible, letting it compound and build up.”

Mr Gillham said superannuation money should stay as an investment for the future, as the family home is not about retirement.

“You’re not going to think about the family home from an investment point of view – buying a family home has nothing to do with retirement, it’s a lifestyle choice,” he said.

“To me, [this proposal] is a double-edged sword; the government plays with superannuation all the time resulting in never ending changes.”

Mr Gilham said while he understands the government wants to help younger people get into property, “Australians need to get smarter”.

“Australia’s love affair with property is very misguided. It’s actually far more profitable just to be a renter and invest in shares and property [you don’t live in] because of the tax deductions and the fact it’s a much better way to create wealth for retirement,” he said.

Having your own property with your name on the title, Mr Gillham said, is something Australians should get out of the habit of.

“It’s not actually very productive for you because all you’ve done once you sell the house at the end of a 30-year period is pay the capital cost into the house and the bank interest – it’s just enforced slavery.”