Brash Calls For Referendum on Retirement Age

ACT Leader Don Brash called for a referendum on the age of eligibility for New Zealand Superannuation stating ACT’s belief that a decision on the pension age should not be left to politicians alone.

“The single biggest impediment to raising the age of eligibility – a measure that is widely-acknowledged as being necessary – is the Prime Minister’s promise that he would resign rather than raise the age, yet this promise is at odds with the demographic and fiscal reality,” Dr Brash said.

“ACT believes we cannot afford to have a single politician influence such an important issue in this way. ACT will push hard for a referendum to be held on the retirement age in the coming year.

“We would negotiate for such a referendum to form part of our Confidence and Supply Agreement with National in the upcoming Government.

“The referendum question could be very simple. For example: ‘Should New Zealand match Australia’s retirement age of 67 by 2023 by raising the age of eligibility six months every second year starting from 2017?’

“A referendum would take this issue, and its long term consequences, out of today’s politics and put New Zealand’s fiscal destiny in the hands of New Zealanders.

“New Zealand faces stark realities about its economic future; it should be up to the people to choose. A vote for ACT is a vote for New Zealanders to take control of their destiny,” Dr Brash said.

ENDS

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