The government has succeeded in passing its superannuation legislation, with the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voting in favour.
Greens leader Adam Bandt said his party opposed the changes, which close a potential loophole for public servants to include the value of their free overseas accommodation in their superannuation calculation, because it believes the government is rushing through the changes.
Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones. Credit:alex ellinghausen
Ace Katina Curtis has written, the bill is in response to a case brought by three bureaucrats in the Federal Court. The government’s advice is that if the case succeeds, it could open the door to claims from some 10,000 public servants posted overseas since 1986. It is estimated this could cost the Commonwealth between $3 billion and $8 billion.
The bill was introduced in and has passed the Senate, and is being considered in the lower house.
Independent MP Zoe Daniel has declared a potential conflict of interest and withdrawn herself from a vote given she was a foreign correspondent at ABC, which is a publicly funded broadcaster. Dr Sophie Scamps has also declared a potential conflict in relation to a relative of her.
The Coalition supported the bill.
Shortly before the vote, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones countered the concerns raised by the Greens by citing the potential amount the government would be liable to pay.
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“It is about the cost of the pharmaceutical benefits scheme,” he said.
“These are not small amounts of money. No sane government would do otherwise than this government has done this morning.”
Parliamentarians are now being called to the House of Representatives to vote on the government’s landmark climate change bill that will legislate the 43 per cent emissions reduction target.
The Coalition has signaled they will oppose the bill. However, Tasmanian Liberal MP will cross the floor.