Submissions

Issue  Date                                                            Click to read
Letter to all Members of the House of Representatives and all Senators 12 February 2019 Letter to all Members of Parliament February 2019
Response to government’s Retirement Income Disclosure Consultation Paper 11 February 2019 Retirement Income Disclosure Consultation Paper
2019/20 pre-Budget submission cover letter 6 December 2018 201920 Pre budget submission cover letter
2019/20 pre-Budget submission 6 December 2018 2019 20 SCOA Australia Pre Budget Submission
Letter from Prime Minister Scott Morrison in response to letter to the Prime Minister of 27 August 2018 regarding indexation and taxation of CSS and PSS pensions (see below) 29 October 2018 Letter from Prime Minister Scott Morrison re indexation and taxation
Letter to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg regarding calculation of reversionary benefit in relation to the $1.6 million Transfer Balance Cap 8 October 2018 Letter to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg
Letter to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten regarding indexation and taxation of CSS and PSS pensions 28 August 2018 Letter to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten
Letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrision regarding indexation and taxation of CSS and PSS pensions 27 August 2018 Letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Letter to Australian Taxation Office regarding the information on 2018 PAYG summaries and problems with lodging tax returns 27 August 2018 Letter to ATO re PAYG summaries
Letter to The Hon Kelly O’Dwyer, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services regarding employer contributions (money flow) 1 May 2018 Letter to Kelly O’Dwyer re employer contributions
Letter to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten regarding dividend imputation credits 19 March 2018 Letter to Bill Shorten re dividend imputation refund
2018-19 pre-Budget submission 30 November 2017 (lodged 2 January 2018) 2018 19 Pre Budget Submission
Senate Economics Legislation Committee inquiry into the Treasury Laws Amendment (Improving Accountability and Member Outcomes in Superannuation Measures No. 1) Bill 2017 and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Strengthening Trustee Arrangements) Bill 2017 27 September 2017 SCOA’s submission to the inquiry into the Strengthening Trustee Arrangements Bill 2017
Senate Economics Legislation Committee inquiry into the Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Consumers First – Establishment of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority) Bill 2017 27 September 2017  SCOA’s submission to Senate inquiry into the Establishment of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority Bill 2017
Senate Economics Legislation Committee inquiry into the Treasury Laws Amendment (Improving Accountability and Member Outcomes in Superannuation Measures) Bill 2017  27 September 2017 SCOA’s submission into Senate inquiry into Improving Accountability and Member Outcomes in Superannuation Measures No. 2 Bill
Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee inquiry into digital delivery of government services 27 September 2017 Submission into Senate inquiry into digital delivery of government services
Submission into inquiry into an integrated care at home program 23 August 2017 Submission to inquiry into an integrated care at home program
Committee report on the legislation to remove the energy supplement 21 August 2017 Social Services Legislation Amendment (Ending Carbon Tax Compensation) Bill 2017 [Provisions]
Submission to Senate Standing Community Affairs Committee 6 July 2017 Community Affairs Committee re removal of energy supplement
Letter to Minister Alan Tudge 14 March 2017 Letter to Minister Alan Tudge re Centrelink phone numbers
Letter to Minister Christian Porter 16 January 2017 Letter to Minister Christian Porter re ten percent cap
2017/18 pre-Budget submission 6 January 2017 2017/18 Pre Budget submission
Submission to inquiry into Treasury Laws Amendment (Fair and Sustainable Superannuation) Bill 2016, and Superannuation (Excess Transfer Balance Tax) Imposition Bill 2016 17 November 2016 Submission to Senate Economics Legislation Committee
Letter to Minister Christian Porter 18 October 2016 Letter to Minister Christian Porter re indexation, the ten percent cap and other issues
Submission on proposed superannuation reform, tranche two 10 October 2016 Submission on the proposed superannuation reform package, tranche two
Submission to Budget Repair Bill 2016 27 September 2016 Submission to Budget Repair Bill 2016
Letter to Kelly O’Dwyer, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services regarding the treatment of defined benefit pensions 27 September 2016 Hon Kelly O’Dwyer regarding defined benefit pensions
Submission to the Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016 7 September 2016 Submission-to-budget-savings-omnibus-bill-2016
Letter to Treasurer Scott Morrison regarding the Age Pension income test deeming rates 16 August 2016 Treasurer Scott Morrison re deeming rates
Letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull re the ten percent cap issue 10 August 2016 20160810 Prime Minister re ten percent cap issue
Letter to Senator Zed Sesejla 19 July 2016
Letter congratulating Senator Zed Seselja on his appointment as the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multucultural Affairs; seeking a meeting to discuss a number of relevant issues
20160719 Congratulations Zed Seselja
Letter to newly re-elected MP, Mike Kelly 18 July 2016
Letter congratulating Mike Kelly on his re-election to Parliament, requesting a meeting to discuss a number of relevant issues
20160718 Mike Kelly congratulations
Letter to select politicians 30 May 2016
Letter requesting that the taper rate for the Age Pension be re-set to the previous level
20160530 Letter to politicians re taper rate
Letter to Peter Hendy MP 23 March 2016
Letter to Dr Peter Hendy, MP following meeting regarding the effects of the 10% issue
Attached with the letter was a short paper recapping the background, providing the spread of superannuation income across the commonwealth civilian and the military schemes, and two sample ‘grandfathering’ models
2016-17 pre-Budget submission 6 January 2016
2016-17 pre-Budget submission
The key messages that SCOA wishes to be reflected in the budget outcomes for 2016-17 are a government that has committed itself to:
  • maintaining the purchasing power of retirement incomes to keep pace with increases in the real cost of living;
  • indexation which retains the value of Commonwealth superannuation pensions;
  • equitable tax treatment.  No discrimination against people according to the source of their pension;
  • equity in assessing income.  Those on similar incomes should be able to access the same benefits.
Letter to Minister for Social Services Christian Porter 21 October 2015 Letter to Minister for Social Services, the Hon Christian Porter, regarding changes to the cap on the amount of a defined benefit income assessed as part of the income test for the Age Pension
Submission to Taxation Review June 2015 9 June 2015
Submission to the Review of Australia’s Taxation System, June 2015
SCOA’s recommendations include:
  • Increase taxation of superannuation funds in the accumulation phase;
  • Provide adequate compensation for any increase in the GST;
  • Retain franking credits;
  • Treat “untaxed” defined benefit superannuation funds as a separate head of taxation;
  • Implement taxation of the earnings of superannuation funds, other than “untaxed” defined benefit funds, in the pension phase;
  • Waive stamp duty for purchases of low value dwellings by those of age pension age; and
  • Introduce a tax offset of 10% for the interest on pensioner savings accounts.
2015/16 pre-Budget submission 8 January 2015
2015/16 pre-Budget submission
2015/16 pre-Budget submission.
SCOA’s 2015/16 pre-Budget submission’s recommendations include:
  • Fair indexation of Commonwealth superannuation pensions;
  • Changes to the taxation of superannuation pensions to remove discrimination against public sector pension recipients;
  • Increase in and continuing indexation of the income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC);
  • Lowering the single-person Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medicare safety nets to 65% of the family safety nets.
Submission to Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into Budget Measures Bill No. 2 July 2014 28 July 2014
Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into Budget Measures Bill No. 2, July 2014
SCOA’s submission expresses SCOA’s support for some Budget measures, e.g. the establishment of a Future Fund for Medical Research, and opposes other proposed measures including the change to the method of indexing the Age Pension and the Parental Leave Scheme.
Letter to Minister for Health regarding NDIS 28 April 2014
Letter to Minister for Health16 June 2014
Response from Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield
Response from Assistant Minister for Social Services
SCOA’s objection to over 65 year olds not having access to the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), however they are required to contribute to the scheme via the additional 0.5% Medicare levy from 1 July 2014.
Letter to Minister for Finance and Deregulation

24 April 2014 – Letter to Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance and Deregulation

2 October 2014
Response from Minister Cormann
Response from Minister Cormann

SCOA’s objection to the proposed “watering down” of the financial services (adviser) regulations, aka Future of Financial Advice (FoFA).

Letter to Minister for Health re Medicare copayment

 

11 April 2014 – Letter to the Hon Peter Dutton, Minister for Health

9 September 2014
Response from the Department of Health
Response from the Department of Health

SCOA’s objection to the proposed $6 Medicare co-payment.
Letter to Minister for Human Services

10 April 2014 – Letter to the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Human Services

4 August 2014
Response from Minister Marise Payne

The News for Seniors published by Centrelink.  It had not been published since July 2013 and SCOA asked the Minister if it will be published again soon.
2014/15 Pre-Budget Submission
2014/15 Pre-Budget Submission Cover Letter
31 January 2014 – 2014/15 Pre-Budget Submission In addition to changes to the indexation and taxation of Commonwealth superannuation pensions, SCOA
is making recommendations regarding the income thresholds for the Commonwealth
Seniors Health Card (CSHC); changes to the PBS and Medicare safety net limits;
the provisions of the Disability Care Australia; an extension of the Medicare
benefits to cover dental benefits; concessions for hearing tests for holders of
the CSHC; the ability of older retirees to contribute to their super without
having to satisfy a work test; and the retention of access to the Net Medical
Expenses Tax Offset for people over 65 years of age. 
2013 Pre-election submission cover letter
2013 Pre-election submission
27 May 2013 – 2013 Pre-election submission and cover letter SCOA’s recommendations focus on
  • Fair indexation of Commonwealth superannuation pensions to maintain the purchasing power and keep pace with increases in the real cost of living;
  • The removal of discrimination against recipients of public service pensions in relation to Centrelink pensions/benefits and taxation; and
  • Simplification of the tax system including equitable tax treatment and equity in the assessment of non-superannuation income.
2013/14 Pre-Budget Submission 29 January 2013 – 2013/14 pre-Budget submission SCOA’s recommendations focus on the subjects of the indexation and taxation of Commonwealth superannuation pensions; a simplification of the tax system and the income test taper rate for the Age Pension.