Grey Power Urges Action On Super
Grey Power Media Release
December 28, 1999
GREY POWER URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO FAST TRACK LEGISLATION GIVING CERTAINTY AND STABILITY TO THE PROVISION OF NEW ZEALAND SUPERANNUATION.
Responding to yesterday's (27/12/99) front page report in The Dominion that "OFFICIALS BACK BIG SUPER CHANGES" Grey Power's advice to the Minister is that FAST TRACK LEGISLATION is required to solve the superannuation question.
The Official advice given to the Minister of Social Welfare to maintain "Task Force 2000" is out of touch with the public frustration on this issue.
Grey Power
agrees there is great public concern over the future of New
Zealand Superannuation. We support the Government's Policy
on the provision of retirement income. The Government's
proposals will solve the question of the long term stability
and the fiscal sustainability of New Zealand
Superannuation.
Grey Power reminds "The Officials"
·
There have been,
· Two Todd Task Forces.
· A Periodic
Review Group.
· The Prime Ministers "Task Force 2000" was
set up to "Kick Super for Touch" before the election
campaign.
· The Accord failed because the National
Government slowly strangled it and finally killed it.
·
No other Party would join the 2000 task force.
· It was
dominated by Insurance and Finance Industry interests, and
had only token representation from retired peoples
organisations.
· The PRG said there was time, twenty or
more years, to get the question of the long term future of
NZS right before it became a problem.
The process for the
long term sustainability of New Zealand Superannuation has
been set in motion with the Governments proposed legislation
that will ensure;
1. A dedicated fund.
2. Paid for from
general taxation.
3. Built up to be self
sustaining.
4. Kept at arms three arms lengths from
politicians.
5. A threshold of 75% of the House of
Parliament before any changes could be made.
6. The fund
would be administered by an independent board with balanced
representation which includes representatives from those
organisations which represent older New Zealanders.
7.
All political parties will have an input at the committee
stage.
Grey Power has no sympathy for any call to re-run the theory it wants action through legislation now.
Don
Robertson
President 06
3550291