Barnaby Joyce grilled on One Nation’s pitch for early access to super

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has struggled to say how his party would make it easier for Australians to dip into their super early.

The New England MP claimed on Tuesday that Labor was eyeing steeper taxes on super accounts, offering that “you can’t trust the government” as his only evidence.

He went on to say One Nation’s policy was in part driven by concern for those affected by the collapses of First Guardian and Shield, which have wiped out some $1.2bn in retirement savings for 12,000 Australians.

The other concern was for “people approaching us” who say they cannot access their super via hardship exceptions.

Hardship claims must be made to super funds directly and typically require evidence, such as six months’ proof of income support payments.

Mr Joyce said “we are finding people who say to us: ‘If I don’t get access, I will lose my house.’

“So they’ve got a choice between two different assets – their house as an asset … or super somewhere down the track as an asset.”

He could not say how One Nation would grant easier access but suggested that giving evidence of financial stress was too much compliance.

He said “it should be simpler than that” to access “a portion” of super.

Originally published as Barnaby Joyce grilled on One Nation’s early super pitch