Access to super a cause for debate

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd indicated he would be willing to look at policy settings around changing access to superannuation for super fund members transitioning to retirement.

In last night's election debate between the incumbent Prime Minister and his rival hopeful, Opposition leader Tony Abbott, the pair spoke about accessing superannuation to finance purchases such as housing.

Rudd ruled out making any changes for the younger population.

"We need to look at how you have more flexible access to finance ... for younger people it's too hard, considering what super was designed to do," he said.

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In response, Abbott said the superannuation system was designed to prop up people in retirement.

"The reason why we give tax concessions for super is that we do have to live on it in retirement," he said.

"While super ought not be a piggy bank for us when we retire, it surely shouldn't be a piggy bank for Government."

The Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Mathias Cormann, hit out after the debate, saying the Government had promised to make no new changes to superannuation.

"He [the Prime Minister] was suggesting that he might let older people access their super earlier when all of the experts were pushing for the opposite," Cormann said.