The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) is set to capitalise on its recent campaign of television advertisements designed to put superannuation on the political map, by scheduling a series of meetings with all major political parties.
ASFA CEO Philippa Smith says the meetings were arranged after a strong public response to the advertising campaign, and in an attempt to get political parties to announce details about any planned review of superannuation and retirement savings.
“Both major political parties have indicated that they are committed to a review of superannuation. What we are trying to do is get them to commit to something more specific,” Smith says.
Smith says the ad campaign drew a strong response from the general community because it tapped into the frustration felt by many individuals trying to save for their own retirement.
Research recently commissioned by ASFA in the swinging electorate of Moreton in Brisbane indicated that 90 per cent of voters saw retirement savings as an important issue, significantly ahead of tax cuts, fairer GST or a balanced budget.
The television campaign consisted of two separate ads, one featuring a “Super Slug” and the other an “Ageing Australian”, both of which were designed to focus on the heavy and multiple taxation of superannuation.
“The purpose of the TV ad campaign is to place saving for retirement firmly on the agenda for political debate leading up to the election, and to elicit a clear articulation of policies and vision by the major political parties,” Smith says.
“A vacuum exists in political leadership on this issue. Our latest research has proved that super and adequacy of retirement income is top of mind for the electorate, and as an issue, it will continue to grow as the population ages.”
