The Opposition Leader has promised to rip up to $500 from 218,850 retail workers, 145,999 checkout operators and 93,495 kitchen hands across the country. [Full list attached below]
57 per cent of all Food Preparation Assistants and 53 per cent of all Checkout Operators will be hit by Tony Abbott’s cut according to figures released today by the Minister for Superannuation, Bill Shorten.
“The Gillard Government is working to ensure hard working Australians have enough to retire on, particularly those earning lower wages now,” said the Minister.
“Mr Abbott’s plan is to rip away up to $500 from the hands of those Australians who need it most.”
The Low Income Superannuation Contribution (LISC) delivers up to $500 to the superannuation accounts of 3.6 million Australians earning up to $37,000 a year.
According to 2010-11 figures released today, 2.2 million or 60 per cent of those low income earners are women.
“We know that deep down Tony Abbott believes superannuation is a ‘con job’ but this is a cutback of around $4 billion that will particularly affect women.”
“I’m talking about a mum working part-time while they care for young kids being hit with a $500 tax bill for contributing to her superannuation. That’s not fair or smart.”
“Women are already retiring with less because of the disparity in their pay compared to men, as well as the time they take out of the workforce to raise their children.”
“Let’s not make that situation worse, let’s try to address it,” said Minister Shorten today.
“I’d rather see $4 billion go into the super accounts of 3.6 million low income Australians than into Tony Abbott’s pocket.”
“I’d rather see a $500 boost to the super account of a kitchen hand or a checkout operator or a farm hand than to Tony Abbott’s pocket.”
Under Tony Abbott’s plan, around 1 in 3 working Australians will be denied up to $500 each year.
In addition to the Low Income Superannuation Contribution introduced on 1 July 2012, the Gillard Government will begin to increase the universal superannuation contribution from 9 to 12 percent from 1 July 2013.
| OCCUPATION | NUMBER AFFECTED | %* | |
| 1 | Sales Assistants and Salespersons | 218,850 | 45% |
| 2 | Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers | 145,999 | 53% |
| 3 | Food Preparation Assistants | 93,495 | 57% |
| 4 | Hospitality Workers | 89,722 | 35% |
| 5 | Cleaners and Laundry Workers | 83,167 | 35% |
| 6 | Receptionists | 57,696 | 32% |
| 7 | General Clerks | 46,703 | 17% |
| 8 | Miscellaneous Labourers | 42,931 | 28% |
| 9 | Packers and Product Assemblers | 41,702 | 33% |
| 10 | Food Trades Workers | 40,405 | 35% |
| 11 | Child Carers | 36,988 | 36% |
| 12 | Freight Handlers and Shelf Fillers | 32,640 | 37% |
| 13 | Personal Carers and Assistants | 29,498 | 12% |
| 14 | Electricians | 25,622 | 27% |
| 15 | Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers | 25,285 | 45% |
| 16 | Bricklayers, and Carpenters and Joiners | 25,107 | 35% |
| 17 | Food Process Workers | 24,144 | 29% |
| 18 | Accounting Clerks and Bookkeepers | 21,968 | 11% |
| 19 | Automotive Electricians and Mechanics | 20,323 | 21% |
| 20 | Storepersons | 18,550 | 18% |
*Percentage of total workforce
