Super, policy positive, fair to all—Minister

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 2

Super, policy positive, fair to all—Minister

Political reporter The Government’s new superannuation policy would protect the interests of retired people and assure adequate retirement income for those under 60, the Minister of Social Welfare, Dr Cullen, said yesterday. Commenting on attacks from branches of the National Superannuitants Association, Dr Cullen said the Government’s solutions were “positive, practical, and fair to all

sectors.” They will be announced in the Budget, on July 27. Dr Cullen said the association had proved itself incapable of positive, practical solutions, and was interested only in wealthy retired people. “They are totally unable to respond to my challenge to represent the vast bulk of superannuitants who have little or no extra income, because those people are not their concern,” he said. “They

are mine, however.” Dr Cullen has challenged the association’s claims that such people are the highest taxed group in New Zealand. While superannuitants paying the surtax were paying more than 33c in the dollar on part of their income, many people receiving abated social welfare or income maintenance benefits faced similarly high effective marginal tax rates, he said.