Retirement
‘$5k super baby bonus could benefit 300k women’
ASFA is demanding a $5,000 super baby bonus.
‘$5k super baby bonus could benefit 300k women’
In its pre-budget submission, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has called for the introduction of a $5,000 super baby bonus payable directly into super accounts following the birth or adoption of a child.
The proposed payment, believed to benefit as many as 300,000 women per year, would be equivalent to the amount that a person would receive from Super Guarantee (SG) contributions on a $60,000 wage for one year.
“While the superannuation system is well-designed and working for the majority of Australians, there is a significant gap of 23.4 per cent in superannuation balances between men and women as they approach retirement,” said ASFA chief executive Dr Martin Fahy.
According to a recent consumer survey undertaken by ASFA, over 80 per cent of respondents believe the government should take measures to boost the super balances of women who take time out of the workforce to have children.
“Broken work patterns, COVID-19, and the early release of superannuation, which was used to help get Australians through the pandemic, have eroded the retirement savings of low-income earners and women in particular,” said Dr Fahy.
“It is now essential that repair be undertaken to low-income earners and women’s retirement budgets through targeted assistance.”
AFSA noted that the super baby bonus would supplement proposals to pay SG on paid parental leave.
RELATED ARTICLES
About the author
About the author
Superannuation
Australia's super performance test transforms investing: What's the next move?
APRA’s latest performance test has done more than name and shame lagging super options; it has rewired investment strategy, compressed fees and accelerated consolidation across the $3Read more
Superannuation
Australia's super test dilemma reform could boost long-term gains while keeping accountability sharp
APRA’s latest performance test results have reignited a structural debate: can Australia hold funds to account while still backing the nation’s long-horizon investment needs? With the government ...Read more
Superannuation
Super funds rethink strategy as APRA's performance test hits a fork in the road
The latest performance test results have reignited debate over Australia’s superannuation benchmarking regime and prompted a formal government review. Behind the headlines, boards are quietly rewiring ...Read more
Superannuation
Aware Super enhances digital tools for financial advisers, boosting efficiency and client engagement
Aware Super has unveiled a suite of new digital features designed to streamline the workflow for financial advisers and their clients. This significant upgrade includes direct data feeds to Xplan and ...Read more
Superannuation
Super funds flip the script as APRA's performance test sparks strategic overhaul
Australia’s performance test has lifted the floor on retirement outcomes—and divided the industry in the process. After early shockwaves, failure rates have fallen and fees have trended down, but ...Read more
Superannuation
Rewiring Australia’s super performance test: from compliance brake to capital engine
Can an accountability tool double as a nation-building lever? Canberra’s review of the superannuation performance test aims to preserve member protection while freeing funds to back long-dated assets ...Read more
Superannuation
Superannuation guarantee rate rises to 12 per cent as parental leave changes take effect
The superannuation guarantee rate has increased from 11.5 per cent to 12 per cent from Tuesday, with super contributions also being added to Commonwealth Parental Leave Pay for the first time. Read more
Superannuation
Rest's Sustainable Growth option achieves highest sustainability classification
Rest superannuation fund has achieved the highest sustainability classification for its Sustainable Growth investment option from the Responsible Investment Association Australasia. Read more
Superannuation
Australia's super performance test transforms investing: What's the next move?
APRA’s latest performance test has done more than name and shame lagging super options; it has rewired investment strategy, compressed fees and accelerated consolidation across the $3Read more
Superannuation
Australia's super test dilemma reform could boost long-term gains while keeping accountability sharp
APRA’s latest performance test results have reignited a structural debate: can Australia hold funds to account while still backing the nation’s long-horizon investment needs? With the government ...Read more
Superannuation
Super funds rethink strategy as APRA's performance test hits a fork in the road
The latest performance test results have reignited debate over Australia’s superannuation benchmarking regime and prompted a formal government review. Behind the headlines, boards are quietly rewiring ...Read more
Superannuation
Aware Super enhances digital tools for financial advisers, boosting efficiency and client engagement
Aware Super has unveiled a suite of new digital features designed to streamline the workflow for financial advisers and their clients. This significant upgrade includes direct data feeds to Xplan and ...Read more
Superannuation
Super funds flip the script as APRA's performance test sparks strategic overhaul
Australia’s performance test has lifted the floor on retirement outcomes—and divided the industry in the process. After early shockwaves, failure rates have fallen and fees have trended down, but ...Read more
Superannuation
Rewiring Australia’s super performance test: from compliance brake to capital engine
Can an accountability tool double as a nation-building lever? Canberra’s review of the superannuation performance test aims to preserve member protection while freeing funds to back long-dated assets ...Read more
Superannuation
Superannuation guarantee rate rises to 12 per cent as parental leave changes take effect
The superannuation guarantee rate has increased from 11.5 per cent to 12 per cent from Tuesday, with super contributions also being added to Commonwealth Parental Leave Pay for the first time. Read more
Superannuation
Rest's Sustainable Growth option achieves highest sustainability classification
Rest superannuation fund has achieved the highest sustainability classification for its Sustainable Growth investment option from the Responsible Investment Association Australasia. Read more
