Superannuation
Superannuation needs a new public debate
Spectator Australia, 11 September 2026
Fundamentally, superannuation is in place to ensure today’s income earners finance their own retirement.
Around the world, old-age pensions, provided as a right for the aged, have only been in place for the past hundred years or so – that is, they came into being once the masses achieved political power and older people were able to require politicians to provide them income
Superannuation at the centre of attention
Spectator Australia, 19 August 2026
Suddenly, superannuation has become a hot-button issue in Australia. Germany was the first modern state to introduce old-age pensions. That was in 1889 when Bismarck required all employees to contribute to funding their retirement incomes. Australia and Britain introduced means-tested but non-contributory pensions in 1908. Britain’s was shifted to a (partial) contributory basis in 1925. In principle,