No need to work longer: Labor

Labor is asking why Australians should have to work until they're 70.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (r) and Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen

Chris Bowen says he fears the Abbott government have politicised the intergenerational report. (AAP)

Labor has rejected federal government calls for Australians to work longer, saying superannuation reform is key to a decent retirement.

Joe Hockey on Thursday released the latest intergenerational report, which says Australians will live longer and be healthier over the next 40 years.

But the treasurer says they will have to be prepared to work well beyond 65 if they want to maintain their standard of living.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen dismissed the report as a "highly political document" and a missed opportunity.

"His report contains eight pages on the future and 80 pages on the past," he told reporters in Canberra.

Mr Bowen rejected suggestions Australians should work longer.

"Why should Australian bricklayers, carpenters, policemen, nurses, soldiers have to work until they're 70?" he said.

"I don't think Australians should have to work the longest working life in the OECD."

Instead, the government needed to encourage retirement savings, something the coalition had failed to do by slowing down the rate of increase in the superannuation guarantee, removing the tax concessions for low-income earners and refusing to deal with equity in the superannuation system.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world