Persevering through a political thought-bubble
It is not often that Outsider feels a sense of surprise. But the usually unfazed Outsider was left feeling shocked when he attended what must have been one of the first industry face-to-face events since the COVID-19 pandemic halted events.
You see during the event the Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services, and the Digital Economy, Jane Hume was awarded a ‘Perseverance Award’.
What for, you ask? Outsider has no idea.
But Outsider notes that during Hume’s speech at the event she said that the early release of super scheme was a “lifeline” for many Australians who were struggling to make ends meet due to the pandemic.
After some questioning from the audience about how these people were going to make up the money they accessed, Hume optimistically stated there were a myriad of ways including catch-up contributions and the concessional cap.
Outsider has a really hard time figuring out how people that needed a lifeline would have extra money to put into their super but imagines it might be much easier for Persevering Jane to envisage directing extra money into her super when she is comfortably sitting on a $264,000 salary.
Persevering Jane stated that it was “awkward” for the current Liberal government to deal with the legislated super guarantee increase to 10% in July, and 0.5% increases until it reaches 12% by 2025, because she claimed there was a trade off between wages and super.
It must be nice to have a job that sits under the Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004 that provides 15.4% super and doesn’t seem to impact wages.
While Outsider would love to have 15.4% super, he also is very grateful he is a journalist on a measly wage that keeps him humble and realistic.
Outsider wonders whether perseverance awards belong to Australians who have genuinely suffered as a result of the pandemic and from the horrific effects of climate change such as bushfires.
AUTHOR
The Outsider
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