Blair tells politicians to stop bickering

Retirement Commissioner Colin Blair is pleading for politicians to find a solution to the superannuation debate.

Friday, September 26th 1997, 12:00AM

On the eve of a predicted no vote in the superannuation referendum Retirement Commissioner Colin Blair has called for politicians to stop the bickering and points scoring over this issue.
“My plea to politicians is that they get their heads together and try and get a solution to the superannuation debate,” he says.
The public are sick and tired of the bickering, he says. “They are saying they need greater stability and they need more certainty.”
Blair has asked politicians to come together, find common ground and a sustainable long term solution to the issue.

The only way forward is through political agreement, and options such as the earlier accord on superannuation would be a good starting point.
Blair has also been concerned that the role of private savings has been lost in the debate.
Any politician who talks publicly about superannuation must also talk about the role of private provision, he says.
The Electoral Office says with 12 hours of polling left about 74 per cent of eligible voters had cast their votes in the referendum.
Voting by postal ballot closes at 7pm tonight (Friday September 26), a provisional result will be announced at 7.30pm and the final vote will be known by Tuesday September 30.
“The high voter turnout obviously indicates the keen interest people have in this issue,” Blair says.
Following the referendum the Office of the Retirement Commissioner will resume its television advertising campaign soon and it is expecting to launch a workplace education scheme early next year.

« Active management used too loosely

Get your tax questions answered online »

Special Offers