Superannuation changes, mobile services

Last week the Coalition Government secured parliamentary passage of the most comprehensive suite of superannuation reforms in a decade.  This delivers on our commitment to improve the fairness, sustainability, flexibility and integrity of the superannuation system. With our Federal Budget currently under pressure, this saving measure will improve the underlying cash balance by $2.8 billion over the forward estimates. Ninety-six per cent of individuals with superannuation will either not be affected by these changes or will be better off.  The majority of the 4 per cent of individuals that are adversely affected by these changes are unlikely to rely on the Age Pension in retirement. The passage of the package will make it possible for Australians to manage their superannuation and plan their retirement with certainty.  It will also provide certainty for the superannuation industry, allowing it to implement the reforms by July 1.  Further details:  www.treasury.gov.au/superreforms 

10 YEAR MILESTONE

November marks 10 years since the first Australian Government Mobile Service Centre (MBC) hit the road to visit regional communities with limited access to government services. First launched as a converted Winnebago in 2006, the service has since evolved into a pair of sleek, high-tech, nationally touring mobile offices equipped to deliver the same Centrelink and Medicare services as any other Department of Human Services Service Centre. Over the past decade these MBC have covered almost 700,000 kilometres, helped over 120,000 customers, visited more than 3800 towns and been deployed to 20 disaster situations.  A MBC always generates a lot of business when it pulls up in local towns across the Parkes electorate.  Along with the usual Centrelink and Medicare services, we’ve also seen a lot of interest from people wanting help use online self-service options. For more: humanservices.gov.au/mobileoffice