Liberals falling apart over super mess

18 May 2016

Scott Morrison’s ill-considered superannuation policies are unravelling in dramatic fashion.

Many Australians are deeply concerned about the impact the Liberals’ Budget will have on their hard-earned super - not to mention the retirement incomes system more generally.

The Liberals can’t agree on their superannuation change, and the divisions are getting ugly.

Scott Morrison is misleading people about its retrospectivity, while Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop can’t seem to agree whether there’ll be changes at all. All the while, staunch Liberals are baying for blood.

But it gets worse. Now, senior Liberal figures are lining up to pour scorn on the changes. It’s every bit an open revolt.

Even former Liberal treasurer Peter Costello has delivered a stinging rebuke of Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison’s doomed policy.

When Peter Costello himself takes aim at the Liberal treasurer, you know there’s something wrong.

Then there’s Peta Credlin, chief of staff to the former prime minister, who says the superannuation changes make the Turnbull Government look both “devious as well as unprincipled.”

Scott Morrison needs to own up and face the facts: his superannuation changes are retrospective, and poorly thought through.

Labor shares Australians’ concerns about the retrospective elements of the Government’s policy. Reckless changes to superannuation put a dint in confidence in the entire system.

Australia is lucky to have one of the best retirement income systems in the world. The message to the Liberals is clear: don’t ruin it.

The more the Liberals talk about their superannuation plans, the messier it becomes, and the more concerned Australians get.

Labor wants to address poorly-targeted superannuation tax concessions at the top end.

But, unlike the Liberals, we won’t be acting with reckless abandon, and we won’t act without due consultation first.