The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Rod Kemp, announced today that it had become necessary to defer the start dates for the Government’s policies to provide choice of superannuation fund and Superannuation Guarantee ‘opt out’ due to the large backlog of legislation being held up in the Senate.
Both policies were to commence from 1 July 1999 (with respect to new employees in the case of the choice of funds policy). However, despite having been passed by the House of Representatives in February, Labor’s policy of using the Senate to obstruct the Government’s legislative program has prevented the choice of fund legislation being debated so far this year. This follows Labor obstruction in the Senate last May which prevented debate on the Bill before the last Election.
The Government remains committed to choice as much as ever and is seeking to have the legislation debated in this session of the Senate.
A further announcement on the new start dates will be made as soon as possible.
CANBERRA
10 June 1999
Contact Officers: Matthew Guy (02) 6277 7360