Super tax concessions worth it - Costello

13 November 2014
| By Mike |
image
image
expand image

Former Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello says super tax concessions are worth the cost to the Budget.

The tax concessions granted to superannuation funds are justified and will lead to long term cost savings to the Commonwealth, according to former Federal Treasurer and chairman of the Future Fund board of guardians, Peter Costello.

Addressing the Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA) conference in Melbourne, Costello said that while the Treasury had valued the cost of the tax concessions at around $16 billion he believed they could be justified.

"They can be justified because the Government has the ability to claw that value back in savings to the cost of providing the age pension," he said.

The former Treasurer also pointed to the findings of the recent Commission of Audit report which had suggested that by 2050 around 80 per cent of Australians would still be on a full or part pension - something which underscored the benefits of superannuation.

Further, he said that even with the superannuation guarantee at 12 per cent, the number of people taken off the age pension would be very small.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

Recommended for you

sidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

3 months 4 weeks ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

4 months ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

4 months ago

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia has appointed a new director representing industry funds, among a number of other appointments in recent months....

17 hours ago

The asset manager is bolstering its investments in the global energy transition and climate opportunities....

2 days 4 hours hence

The ethical investment manager has reported record FUM as its growth trajectory continues apace....

1 day 17 hours ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND