As a self funded retiree, I\u2019m frustrated with Canberra\u2019s continuous fiddle with Superannuation contributions and rule changes, plus the measure to Rebalance the Pension Assets Test to be implemented on 1 January 2017.
\nSo here’s fair warning to all politicians of any persuasion, this group of aged voters may be about to make the greatest impact on any Federal election in history. Ignoring them may be the start of a changed political environment in this country.
\nChange the Entitlements
\nI absolutely agree, if a pension isn’t an entitlement, neither is theirs. They keep telling us that paying us an aged pension isn’t sustainable. Paying politicians all the perks they get is even less sustainable! The politicians themselves, in Canberra, brought it up, that the Age of Entitlements is over:
\nThe author is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn to ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in Australia will have this message. This is one idea that really should be passed around because the rot has to stop somewhere.
\nProposals to make politicians shoulder their share of the weight now that the Age of Entitlement is over:
\n1. Scrap political pensions. Politicians can purchase their own retirement plan, just as most other working Australians are expected to do.
\n2. Retired politicians (past, present & future) participate in Centrelink. A Politician collects a substantial salary while in office but should receive no salary when they’re out of office. Terminated politicians under 70 can go get a job or apply for Centrelink unemployment benefits like ordinary Australians. Terminated politicians under 70 can negotiate with Centrelink like the rest of the Australian people.
\n3. Funds already allocated to the Politicians’ retirement fund be returned immediately to Consolidated Revenue. This money is to be used to pay down debt they created which they expect us and our grandchildren to repay for them.
\n4. Politicians will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Politicians pay will rise by the lower of, either the CPI or 3%.
\n5. Politicians lose their privileged health care system and participate in the same health care system as ordinary Australian people. i.e. Politicians either pay for private cover from their own funds or accept ordinary Medicare.
\n6. Politicians must equally abide by all laws they impose on the Australian people.
\n7. All contracts with past and present Politicians men\/women are void effective 31\/12\/2015.
\nThe Australian people did not agree to provide perks to Politicians, that burden was thrust upon them.
\nPoliticians devised all these contracts to benefit themselves.
\nServing in Parliament is an honour, not a career.
\nThe Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so our politicians should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people, then it will only take three or so days for most Australians to receive the message. Don’t you think it’s time?
\nTHIS IS HOW YOU FIX Parliament and help bring fairness back into this country! If you agree with the above, pass it on.
\nIf you wonder why the above individuals are asking for your help look at the figures below.
\nSTATUTORY OFFICES
\nDate of Effect 1 July 2014
\nSpecified Statutory Office
\nBase Salary (per annum)
\nTotal Remuneration for office (per annum)
\nChief of the Defence Force > $535,100 – $764,420
\nCommissioner of Taxation > $518,000 – $740,000
\nChief Executive Officer, Australian Customs And Border Protection Service > $483,840 – $691,200
\nAuditor-General for Australia > $469,150 – $670,210
\nAustralian Statistician > $469,150 – $670,210
\nSalaries of retired Prime Minister and Politicians
\nSalary as of 1 July
\nPrime Minister $507,338
\nDeputy Prime Minister $400,016
\nTreasurer $365,868
\nLeader of the Opposition $360,990
\nHouse of Reps Speaker $341,477
\nLeader of the House $341,477
\nMinister in Cabinet $336,599
\nParliamentary secretary $243,912
\nOther ministers $307,329
\nShadow minister $243,912
\nSource: Remuneration Tribunal.
\nSo if I press all the right buttons, the TOTAL annual wages for the 150 seats in the Parliament are: $17,317,752
\nThe TOTAL ANNUAL SALARIES (for 150 seats) = $41,694,311 – PER YEAR!
\nAnd that\u2019s just the Federal Politicians, no one else!
\nFor the \u2018lifetime\u2019 payment example (below) I used the scenario that:
\n1. They are paid \u2018lifetime\u2019 salaries the same as their last working year and
\n2. After retiring, the \u2019average\u2019 pollie\u2019s life expectancy is an additional 20 years (which is not unreasonable).
\nIt\u2019s worth remembering that this is EXCLUDING all their other perks!
\nSO, for a 20 years \u2018lifetime\u2019 payment (excluding wages paid while a Parliamentarian)
\nPrime Minister @ $507,338 = A$10,146,760
\nDeputy Prime Minister @ $400,016 = A$8,000,320
\nTreasurer @ $365,868 = A$7,317,360
\nLeader of the Opposition @ $360,990 = A$7,219,800
\nHouse of Reps Speaker @ $341,477 = A$6,829,540
\nLeader of the House @ $341,477 = A$6,829,540
\nMinister in Cabinet @ $336,599 = A$6,731,980
\nParliamentary Secretary @ $243,912 = A$4,782,240
\nOther ministers** @ $307,329 = A$6,146,580 x 71 = A$436,407,180
\nShadow ministers** @ $243,912 = A$4,878,240 x 71 = A$346,355,040
\nConclusions:
\nTOTAL \u2018life time\u2019 (20 year) payments, (excluding wages paid while in parliament) = A$833,886,220 \u2013 OVER $833 MILLION.
\nJulia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, John Howard, Paul Keating, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, et al, add nauseum, are receiving $10 MILLION + EXTRA at taxpayer expense.
\nShould an elected PM serve 4 years and then decide to retire, each year (of the 4 years) will have cost taxpayers an EXTRA Two and a half million bucks a year! A$2,536,690 to be precise.
\nA 2 year retirement payment cut-off will SAVE our Oz bottom lineA$792,201,909 *** NEARLY $800 MILLION.
\nThere are 150 seats in House, minus the 8 above = 142 seats, divided equally for example = 71 each for both shadow and elected ministers.
\nThis example excludes all wages paid while a parliamentarian AND all perks on top of that – travel, hotels, secretarial staff, speech writers, restaurants, offices, chauffeured limos, security, etc. etc. 150 seats, 20-year payment of A$833,886,220 less annual salary x 2 years of A$83,388,622. [$41,694,311 x 2]
\n\u201cInstead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.\u201d
\nYOU\u2019RE RIGHT, YOU HAVE FOUND WHERE THE CUTS SHOULD BE MADE!
\nACTION: Push for a MAX 2 year post retirement payment (give \u2018em time to get a real job).
\nSpread it far and wide folks. People should know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As a self funded retiree, I\u2019m frustrated with Canberra\u2019s continuous fiddle with Superannuation contributions and rule changes, plus the measure to Rebalance the Pension Assets Test to be implemented on 1 January 2017. So here’s fair warning to all politicians of any persuasion, this group of aged voters may be about to make the greatest … <\/p>\n