The coalition has not closed the door to future changes to the way superannuation is taxed, Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says.
Mr Frydenberg on Wednesday addressed a Committee for Sustainable Retirement Incomes forum in Canberra.
"The government will, of course, consider good ideas put forward as part of the tax white paper process and any changes recommended by that process will be taken to the Australian people at the next election," Mr Frydenberg said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told parliament the government had "no plans to change superannuation beyond the life of this parliament".
Treasurer Joe Hockey has declined to say "never-ever" and was praised in the coalition joint party room on Tuesday for his handling of questions on superannuation, with one MP lamenting the fact that some in the coalition "rule things in or out too quickly".
Mr Frydenberg said Australia needed a well-informed debate on the issue of tax concessions for superannuation, unlike the $9 billion in surprise changes made by the previous Labor government.
However he questioned those who saw a quick fix in raising taxes.
If the $30 billion in tax concessions on super contributions were removed and the contributions taxed at marginal tax rates it would raise more revenue but it would impact on pensions, he said.
"With a higher tax rate you would expect that superannuation contributions would be smaller for many people," Mr Frydenberg said.
"Smaller superannuation balances would translate into higher age pension payments for many people."
He said the government is reviewing whether the current minimum drawdown rules for account-based pensions need to be made more flexible to encourage the development of more comprehensive retirement income products.
The current minimum drawdown rules require superannuation pension products to draw down a minimum of four per cent of the capital value a year initially, with this percentage increasing later in life.
The existing system is considered to leave too much investment risk with the retiree, leading them to be too conservative in drawing down on their account balances.
"I am hopeful of making an announcement on this in the not too distant future," Mr Frydenberg said.
"To be clear, we are not considering increasing the current rates, but rather making sure the system allows for innovative retirement products to be developed."
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