The future of retirement income policy – including pensions, superannuation and thee role of housing – will come under the spotlight as the nation's decision-makers and policy experts canvass the implications of the Retirement Income Review at the Council on the Ageing's National Policy Forum on 26 February.
The full day conference to be held at the National Press Club in Canberra, and streamed virtually, will include:
- A keynote address by Treasurer John Frydenberg
- A lunchtime debate between Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume and Shadow Minister Stephen Jones
- Be the first appearance of the entire Retirement Income Review panel since its findings were released, with Chair Mike Callaghan AM and members Carolyn Kay and Dr Deborah Ralston
- Other expert speakers include Professor John Piggott AO, Director, Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research; Professor Hazel Bateman, UNSW; David Knox from the Mercer Retirement Index; and Jeremy Cooper, Challenger and former Chair of the Superannuation Review,
COTA Chief Executive Ian Yates says the Forum will explore evidence-based solutions to sustaining our retirement system that guarantee all Australians adequacy, equity and dignity as they age.
"COTA's National Policy Forum will kick off a multi-partisan discussion that doesn't just re-hash the findings of the Retirement Income Review but looks to the pressing question of what comes next. Based on evidence not pre-determined positions.
"The issue of retirement income has been highly politicised over the last few years, sadly to the detriment of rational debate on one of the biggest long term policy challenges of our time," says Mr Yates.
"A diverse range of experts from across the political spectrum are bringing their ideas to the table; not just on superannuation, but also housing, the age pension, tax concessions, equity release and all the policies and mechanisms that make up our retirement income system.
"This is an important event which will has been designed for industry and policy professionals who want to get on top of the debates that will shape the ageing and superannuation sectors over coming years, starting with this year's Federal Budget."
