Once again changes to superannuation are being flagged in the forthcoming budget.
This should not be surprising as superannuation tax concessions have been a feature of 13 Budget speeches in the 24 years since the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) was introduced. Competing political and budgetary objectives can mean that these changes are inconsistent with retirement system objectives.
There is also evidence to suggest that these continuous changes to superannuation policy have undermined trust in the system. Conflicting changes indicate the lack of a clear objective for superannuation.
As a consequence, the recent Financial System Inquiry (FSI) recommended that the objectives of the superannuation system should be defined, enshrined in legislation and reported on regularly. The objective proposed by the Inquiry is to provide income in retirement to substitute or supplement the Age Pension.
The suggestion that superannuation should substitute for the Age Pension is new and flags a major policy change. With the proportion of Australians over 65 increasing from 14% to 21.5% over the next 20 years, the combined costs of tax concessions and the Age Pension under current policy settings becomes unsustainable.
Since the Howard government’s Simpler Super Reforms in 2007, which abolished the Reasonable Benefit Limits, invited a one-off voluntary contribution of $1 million, and removed the taxation of superannuation benefits over the age of 60, superannuation has become a highly tax preferred savings vehicle for middle- to high-income earners. As a consequence, the majority of tax concessions now go to this group, the cost of which has increased, and with only a marginal fiscal offset in terms of reduced reliance on the Age Pension amongst low-income earners.
Ensuring adequate superannuation retirement income to substitute for the Age Pension will need a concerted policy push, as it provides an income for around 70% of older Australians, with the majority receiving the maximum rate.
So what is an adequate retirement income? The OECD recommends an adequate retirement income as a replacement rate of 70% (see Pensions at a Glance 2015: OECD and G20 Indicators). This means low, average and high income earners would need, respectively, an income of: 70% of half the average weekly wage; 70% of the average weekly wage; and 70% of one and half times the average weekly wage.
This equates to a range of outcomes from $28,000 to $82,000, based on average weekly income as at December 2015. The range of superannuation balances required to support this minimum level of retirement income would be $500,000 to $1.5 million. Most low-income earners do not make voluntary contributions so to achieve this outcome the level of the SG needs to increase to 12%, as currently planned.
Other policies required to ensure more older Australians can substitute super savings for the Age Pension would include:
- adjusting incentives to offset the tax disadvantage of contributions on low-income earners with the proposed phasing out the Low Income Subsidy Contribution (LISC) from July 2016
- broadening the coverage of superannuation (20% of retirees reach the preservation age with no superannuation savings)
- raising the preservation age closer to Age Pension eligibility, to extend working life and ensure balances are not depleted before retirement
- increasing the allocation of tax concessions to lower income workers, and reducing concessions to higher income earners, while at the same time ensuring its fiscal sustainability. Some measures that might assist in this regard include:
- Applying earnings tax at 15% to both pre and post retirement phases, simplifies the system, allows a more seamless transition from accumulation to retirement phases, and increases fiscal sustainability (as suggested by the FSI)
- Reviewing existing salary sacrifice and annual contribution caps which currently sit at $30 000 per annum and $35 000 for those over 50 years
- Extending Division 293 Tax, which applies a 30% tax on contributions for incomes over $300 000, to all those in the highest tax bracket on incomes of more than $180 000
- Reviewing post-tax concession limits and imposing a lifetime cap of say around $540 000, instead of every three years.
In the long run the success of the retirement system will depend on ensuring a steady and cohesive approach to policy, and minimising change to build greater trust in the system. It is evident, however, that in the foreseeable future superannuation policy will need to be revised to meet the proposed objective, and ensure the fiscal sustainability of the retirement system.
Ultimately, the quality of life for both retirees and future tax-payers will rest on achieving an appropriate fiscal balance between supporting the aspiration of more self-reliant retirees, and the continuation of a strong social safety net for those who need it.
Dr Deborah Ralston is Professor of Finance at Monash Business School, Monash University and Associate, Australian Centre for Financial Studies. Dr Jimmy Feng is Research Fellow at CSIRO-Monash Superannuation Research Cluster.