Tonight, Kim Beazley failed every Australian with superannuation.
Three days have passed since the Budget and Kim Beazley still refuses to back the Government's superannuation reforms.
Older Australians still don't know whether Kim Beazley will support a tax cut to their super or not.
Just like last year, when Mr Beazley and Labor opposed income tax cuts for Australian workers, tonight Kim Beazley failed to support cuts to superannuation tax.
Specifically, Kim Beazley is refusing to support:
- Tax free superannuation benefits for people aged 60 and over which are paid from a taxed fund from 1 July 2007;
- Abolishing reasonable benefit limits;
- Dramatic simplification of the superannuation system;
- Allowing self employed people to get access to the superannuation co-contribution, which provides $1.50 for every $1 that low and middle income earners put into superannuation; and
- Making it easier for Australians to consolidate their lost superannuation.
By contrast, the Australian superannuation industry supports the Howard Government's proposals. Australian workers support the Howard Government's proposals. Older Australians support the Howard Government's proposals.
The only ones who will not stand up and support a cut in tax to superannuation are Kim Beazley and the Labor Party.
When you cut away all the waffle from Mr Beazley's Budget response this evening, we find that once again, Australia does not know what Kim Beazley and Labor stand for.