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7 February 2026
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This is a quick snapshot of the proposed superannuation changes announced by the Government (as at Friday 16 September 2016, that is).
All these changes commence from 1 July 2017 so get cracking!
Gordon Mackenzie is a Senior Lecturer in taxation and superannuation law at the Australian School of Business, University of New South Wales. This article is a brief summary of the major points, it does not consider the needs of any individual and does not summarise all aspects of the proposals, which have yet to be legislated.
6.Employees can receive a deduction for up to $25,000 pa of contributions less what their employer has contributed Can someone speak on our behalf. If you are over 50 years the limit for Concessional Contributions was $35000. (This is excluding the 9.5% employers super SGC guarantee). Please can this be re-instated. It has been reduced to $25000 for everyone (including >50 years). This is the time when you can build a bit more I your super and it is not fair to target this group.
Yes this is not smart in my opinion, lowering the amount to $25,000, when interest rates are so low and likely future returns even on the stock market will be low. Only public servants with their assured tax payer funded defined pension schemes would let this get proposed. Ivory towers in Canberra! The elderly are usually advised to keep a solid proportion of their income producing assets in fixed interest not shares/stocks. With Aust 10 year Gov bond under 2% that means $500,000 will yield $10,000 annually. This will likely result in more people needing more pensions from the taxpayer not less. If people put more into shares, and there's a significant crash/drop what will this mean? How many could cash out at the worst time? Meddling with the world famous super scheme Australia introduced is unwise. Anyway in our view Aust Gov.s in the future will not have enough money as in other welfare dependent and demographically challenged developed countries and the private Super monies will be even more attractive for treasury to 'raise money' from. Beware.
The latest draft legislation may be an improvement but it still has the whiff of a wealth tax about it. The question remains whether a golden opportunity for simpler and fairer super tax reform has been missed.
Claims that Division 296 double-taxes franking credits misunderstand imputation: franking credits are SMSF income, not company tax, and ensure earnings are taxed once at the correct rate.
A bill that allows the ATO to merge dormant super accounts with active ones and release super members from compulsory life insurance embedded in enterprise agreements and from exit fees was tabled on 21 June 2018.
What are the best ways to build a simple portfolio from scratch? I’ve addressed this issue before but think it’s worth revisiting given markets and the world have since changed, throwing up new challenges and things to consider.
At this time last year, I forecast that 2025 would likely be a positive year given strong economic prospects and disinflation. The outlook for this year is less clear cut and here is what investors should do.
Treasury has released draft legislation for a new version of the controversial $3 million super tax. It's a significant improvement on the original proposal but there are some stings in the tail.
The renowned investor says 2025’s real story wasn’t AI or US stocks but the shift away from American assets and a collapse in the value of money. And he outlines how to best position portfolios for what’s ahead.
The predictions include dividends will outstrip growth as a source of Australian equity returns, US market performance will be underwhelming, while US government bonds will beat gold.
We don’t have a housing shortage; we have housing misallocation. This explores why so many bedrooms go unused, what’s been tried before, and five things to unlock housing capacity – no new building required.
Our cost-of-living pressures go beyond the RBA: surging house prices, excessive migration, and expanding government programs, including the NDIS, are fuelling inflation, demanding bold, structural solutions.
Your super isn’t a bank account you own; it’s a trust you merely benefit from. So why would the Division 296 tax you personally on assets, income and gains you legally don’t own?
Inflation consistently undermines wealth, even in low-inflation environments. Whether or not it returns to target, investors must protect portfolios from its compounding impact on future living standards.
Global equity markets have experienced stellar returns in 2024 and 2025 led, in large part, by the boom in AI. Which sector could be the next star in global markets? This names three future winners.
The case for listed infrastructure is built on stable earnings and cash flows, which have sustained 4% dividend yields across cycles and supported consistent, inflation-linked long-term returns.
The US stock market sits in prolonged bubble territory, driven by AI enthusiasm. History suggests eventual mean reversion, reminding investors to weigh potential risks against current market optimism.