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Published: 09 Nov 2018
Despite almost 30 years of compulsory contributions, women are still retiring with 40 per cent less superannuation than men.
In dollar terms, the average balance for a man aged 60 to 64 is $270,710; for a woman it’s $157,050 or $113,000 less.
And while the pay gap may be trending downwards (from 18.5 per cent in 2014 to 14.6 per cent now), it is only one piece in a more complex puzzle.
In September, Labor took the first concrete steps towards narrowing the gender gap.
It announced a pre-election package that notably includes paying superannuation on government paid parental leave and to people earning less than $450 per month.
Implementation, of course, hinges on whether Bill Shorten’s team wins government.
The $409 million announcement, whilst modest, is welcome.
The policies are not a panacea, but they reflect two key factors.
First, women are still providing the lion’s share of care to children, ageing parents and grandkids in a system unforgiving of broken work patterns.
Tax data clearly shows that the superannuation gap emerges when children arrive, at around age 35, and steadily widens to retirement.
Even on a good salary, catching up on contributions and compound earnings lost while out of the workforce is difficult.
Secondly, women, possibly juggling those care responsibilities, are more likely to work part-time or casual hours, and in low paid sectors.
Labor’s super on parental leave and wage threshold policies respond squarely to these gender realities.
Applied together, they could give a mum-of-three on a median wage an extra six per cent or $30,650 in super at retirement in real terms.
And, if a dad was to take time out to look after the baby, and transition part time back into the workforce, he too would benefit from these proposals.
More generally, the policies are a positive response to the fundamental shift in the way we work.
In the eight years from 2007 to 2015, the proportion of Australians with multiple jobs trebled from six to over 18 per cent.
Yet, the $450 threshold, set 27 years ago, is per job per month.
Currently, someone working three jobs, paying, say, $440 each, would depend on the generosity of his or her employer for superannuation.
Removing the threshold would ensure that everyone over age 18 who earns a wage has equal entitlement.
Age pension access is already tightening. As the second pillar of our retirement income system, policy makers must ensure superannuation is fair and fit for purpose.
The Opposition’s announcement is a positive start.
Aligning the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset with scheduled SG rate and tax threshold increases; and a tightly-targeted low-balance account top up, are other policies worth considering.
The Labor package includes:
- Super on government Paid Parental Leave and Dad and Partner Pay payments from 1 July 2020;
- Phasing out the $450 per month income SG eligibility threshold from 1 July 2020-1 July 2024;
- Amending the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to make it easier for businesses to make extra payments for female employees;
- Better monitoring of policy impacts on the gender gap, including an annual women’s budget statement.
*The above material, whilst correct at the time of publication may include references or statements which are no longer current.