[Greens-Media] Super gender audit needed

[Kerrie Tucker]

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MEDIA RELEASE Kerrie Tucker Greens Senate candidate for the ACT
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6 July 07
 

 
Super gender audit needed
 

Kerrie Tucker, Greens Senate candidate for the ACT, today called for a full
gender audit of superannuation policy, arguing that the current approach to
retirement income fails women.

"Senator Lundy and candidate Mike Kelly's announcement this week that Labor
would address current loopholes in superannuation arrangements does not go
far enough" Ms Tucker said today.

"Many older women are already disadvantaged in terms of their retirement
income because their contribution to society was not wholly through the paid
work force; but through parenting, caring or volunteering."

"Part time and casual low paid work is also predominantly done by women and
leaves them at a disadvantage in their later years, even though this has
been the result of their other social responsibilities."

"What does it say about the values that underpin our economic system if the
important social contribution that comes from unpaid work, such as parenting
and caring not only counts for nothing but leaves people - and still mostly
women - significantly disadvantaged in their older years. Rural women are
also very disadvantaged in this regard."

"Now have potentially increased the inequity further with the recent changes
by the Howard Government to remove tax from superannuation for people over
60, no matter how well off they are. This is a huge loss of revenue for the
Government."  

Ms Tucker argued that this loss of recurrent revenue jeopardises future
increases to the age pension, on which many women depend.

"Worldwide there is a clear link between poverty and women. Rather than
electorally driven tax policy we need to seriously examine of how our tax
system supports social equity."

"Improving the situation for women is important not only for the women
themselves but for the whole society, and unless governments take a
pro-active stance by applying a gender-audit to government policies and
budgets, the link between gender and poverty will remain."

"This needs to happen not only for the good of women, but for the good of
the wider Australian economy" Ms Tucker said.

 
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media inquires: Roland Manderson 041 224 1379


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ACT Greens 8-10 Hobart Pl Canberra City ACT 2601
ph 62476305  www.kerrietucker.org.au