Emerson misleads again on defined benefit scheme

Members of the defined benefit scheme will continue to have their accrued entitlements maintained under proposed legislative changes and will continue to receive their intended payouts, Treasurer Curtis Pitt said. 

“The LNP has tried mount yet another scare campaign, but as usual the one ingredient they lack is facts,” Mr Pitt said. 

“I have spoken today to the secretary of the Together Union, Alex Scott, who recognises the proposed changes would have minimal impact and that the LNP is trying to run a scare campaign. 

“Mr Scott has supported the aims of the government’s proposed changes. 

“He has questioned whether the Queensland Treasurer of the day should be the person to make the decision on adjusting the multiple applied when calculating payouts. 

“I will address those concerns directly.  

“The all-party parliamentary committee that examined the legislation supported the remainder of the legislation. 

“To be clear, all existing salaries that are superannuable, including more than 50 allowances available under industrial awards and published on the QSuper website as well as potential future allowances, will continue to be eligible as part of the defined benefit scheme. 

“Nothing changes in that regard. 

“The proposed amendments merely provide clarity for the future in the event that there is a redefinition of existing payments that have not previously been allowable for calculating super. 

“It is irresponsible for the LNP both fiscally and from a policy-making perspective to be scare-mongering on such a technicality. But that is there usual practice.”

Mr Pitt said Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson was continuing the LNP’s baseless scare campaign. 

“Campbell Newman told public servants they had nothing to fear when they did, and now Scott Emerson says they have everything to fear when in fact they don’t,” Mr Pitt said. 

“In typical fashion, Mr Emerson is trying to over-simply a complex issue with a three-word slogan. 

“All the LNP can offer is scare campaigns. The LNP was wrong in its scare campaign on the suspension of employer contributions to the scheme in the 2015 State Budget. 

“Mr Emerson and the LNP are wrong in their scare campaign on the repatriation of a portion of the $10 billion surplus in the scheme based on actuarial advice. 

“Mr Emerson suggests the changes are being sneaked through, but they are in black and white in a Bill presented to Parliament and have already been the subject of discussion in the committee hearings scrutinising the legislation,” he said. 

Media contact: 0447 316 432 / 0419 945 546