Superannuation Information

Seejay · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:54 am

Chippy Ned wrote:

I just received the exact same e-mail in answer to my e-mail to Gillard.

Why do we bother. :upy:

Just had the exact same answer onforwarded from another mate near Forster. As expected, all emails into the various politicians' offices are re-routed to one desk in Canberra where the plastic answer is attached and sent back to the complainant.

This type of mass complaint/attack will not sway politicians, they simply pass it off to their subordinates to deal with. The only thing that does work is a co-ordinated simultaneous influx of veterans into politicians offices demanding action. And let the TV channels know about it 5 minutes beforehand.

Pony · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:07 pm

I think you may be right Chris.

Wont have to travel far to get to my local members office (about 15 mins walk). Could be good exercise.

Seejay · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:09 pm

Take an axe, he probably won't let you in. :wink:

Pony · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:58 pm

Received this by email today......

15 July 2012

The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Prime Minister of Australia
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

My Dear Prime Minister,

RE: Defence DFRB/DFRDB Superannuation Vs AMWE (Pensioners Indexation)

On behalf of the 9,200 plus Members of the Federation of Naval Ship
Associations, I draw your attention to the thousands, if not millions
of words that have been written or spoken about on the lack of a Fair
Indexation for Defence Force Superannuants. I have NO desire to add
further comment to the written words of the Defence Force Welfare
Assn including their "Fair Go Campaign" and hundreds of other retired
defence personnel. However, I do wish to point out several aspects of
this lack of Fair Indexation for DFRB/DFRDB Superannuants...

In the past week or so I received my DFRDB Pension Update from the
Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation. This update (copy attached)
revealed, during the past 6 months the CPI from Sep 2011 to March
2012 has increased by 0.1%. My update further goes on to advise me I
will now receive the increased princely sum of $1.38 per fortnight or
$0.69 cents per week.

I have also read that you and your Government have agreed to provide
a sum of $250 Million X 4 years to Afghanistan. Most of which will no
doubt fall into the corrupt hands of Afghani politicians and
officials. In addition, Australian Federal politicians have accepted
a pay increase of approximately 3% last week. This would indicate an
average, across the board increase, of some $6,000.00 PA (much more
in Ministers and your own case). This is approximately 150 times my
increase of 0.69 cents per week. Of course, this is in addition to a
huge increase in federal politicians salaries awarded several months
ago. Last but not least I note you have just announced the G20
Conference will be held in Brisbane in 2014 at a cost of $370
million.

Prime Minister, all my Members and I want is some sense of fairness
and social justice in our Superannuation Indexation. We are even
going backwards very rapidly against the "Old Age Pension" which is
indexed to the AMWE not the CPI. Your Minister for Finance rabided on
last year about any increase to Defence DFRB/DFRDB Superannuants
would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. What total and utter
rubbish. Any expenditure to increase Defence Superannuants to
parallel that of Aged Pensions is likely to cost around $20 Million
PA. This would be for approximately 60,000 Defence Superannuants.
Unlike your own recent pay increase which, I understand, will cost
$20 Million PA for under 200 federal politicians. Where is the social
justice in this from a Party who espouses "Social Justice for ALL"

I now wish to comment on the "Crocodile Tears" which you and other
high ranking politicians shed when attending the funerals of our
gallant servicemen. Those who have paid the supreme sacrifice in
either Iraq or Afghanistan, now totalling 33. I have little doubt
that you do feel sorry on these difficult occasions however this is
not reflected in your lack of superannuation commitment to our
veterans and their widows. As my second attachment states "Why
should we give our leaders an eyes right" when you cannot or refuse
to maintain Defence Superannuants with Fair Indexation at least
equivalent to Aged Pensioners. I assume you; your Treasurer and
Minister of Finance are frightened by a likely push from Commonwealth
Public Service Superannuants in relation to fair indexation. Well, I
have yet to see a Politician or Public Servant brought back home in a
"body bag" and here lies the unique difference between military and
other superannuants. I again wish to advise you, that Australia has
NO more loyal citizens than those who serve or have served in the
Defence Forces of Australia. For this unswerving loyalty we are
denied fair justice in our sunset years. Most DFRB/DFRDB recipients
are getting old. Most, like me, served in Vietnam and yet we find
ourselves behind politicians and aged pensioners in terms of a fair
indexation to our Superannuation.

I will not waste your time quoting or attaching the many hundreds of
angry and frustrating emails I receive from my Members. Many aged and
frail. In view of your intransigence to even consider this "Penny
Pinching" increase to Defence Superannuants, I sincerely regret you
will NOT receive my vote next year. Maybe when you are sitting
dejected on the "Opposition Benches" next year you might reflect,
what in excess of 60,000 Defence superannuants and in particular the
9,000 plus Members of the FNSA, residing in marginal seats, might
have achieved for you. Fortunately the Leader of the Opposition has
indicated he will approve our Indexation to match that of Aged
Pensioners when he is elected next year.

Finally, please DO NOT have Warren Snowdon's minions write me yet
another letter, explaining in "One Million Words" why we are not
being aligned with the Aged Pensioner Indexation. I and 60,000 other
DDRB/DFRDB recipients are just sick to death of hearing or reading
the drivel coming from Snowdon's Office (via the Minister). We just
want your Government to get on and approve this travesty of justice

I get physically ill when I think of the funds your Government
expends and yet you cannot see a way clear to pass a Bill to align
loyal Defence Superannuants with the same Indexation as Aged
Pensioners.

Yours in faithfully
Commander Ken Swain AM RAN Rtd
President
Federation of Naval Ship Assns

CC:
The Hon Wayne Swan MP, Treasurer and Assistant Prime Minister
The Hon Warren Snowden MP, Minister for Veterans Affairs
Tony Abbott MHR, Leader of the Opposition

Graeme Rhodes · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:12 pm

Hear hear

Moth · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:21 am

I was just sitting here reading the various posts relating to our lives in general, as relating to the way we feel we are governed, and it occured to me that there is a general discontent, Military Service background or not, across the board.

My solution

the GREYS!!!!

A new Political Party aimed at the over 50's

Imagine a cohesive group of those over 50 - we could change governmanet as we have the numbers.

Imagine a platform of

No factional (religious, gender or quid pro quo) leadership

Really doing something to stop boat people

Giving ex-service personnel and their immediate dependants the same social security benefits as illegal immigrants (including housing).

Taking away the superannuation benefits, gold cards etc supplied to poliiticians.

Making the indolent work for the dole (I mean really work)

Why should young service personnel have to accept discipline and be prepared to move themselves and their families (usually in far worse accommodation than our illegal immigrant bretheren) at a moments notice because they chose representing their country as their occupation - when a dole bludger can live in reasonably better housing, with far more concessional benefits, and opt to reject work offers because they don't suit or are too far away

Bringing some effective leadership and fiscal responsibility into Government.

Listening to the people on issues such as:
Overseas policy (i.e our closest and most threatening neighbours)
Illegal Trade Union activity and political affiliation
Crime and punishment
Health
Crime and punishment
Political roughts
Crime and punishment

I reakon, if the wannabe lunatic fringe was vetted from such a party (remember some of the 'talent' behind Pauline Hanson), it could become very powerful

Chippy Ned · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2012 2:28 pm

I agree wholeheartedly Tim, the initial co-ordination and kick start could be undertaken by the ex-service organisations that are presently behind the 'Fair Go' campaign. They have some pretty clever people behind them, also many contacts in politics.

A party comprising some clever people, devoid of radicals, that addressed the issues of the day that piss the majority off, also the concerns of the ageing population, would quite probably end up with the balance of power in the government.

I am amazed brighter people than us haven't instigated a party already.

Peter Weyling · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2012 2:51 pm

We can add that to my list of possible discussion topics for the Rocks Run!!

BC · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2012 4:20 pm

If I remember correctly, about 15 - 20yrs back, there was a political party called Grey Power, and it stood for all the things you have been suggesting.

They used to get my vote, but obviously the majority didn't follow suite.

They lasted for a couple of elections and then disappeared.

BC · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:42 pm

It was longer than I thought.

Grey Power, an Australian political party lobby group, first registered in 1983. At the federal elections of 1984 and 1987 it ran candidates, but on both occasions these candidates (who included former Liberal cabinet minister Bill Wentworth) did poorly. The group was designed to represent the elderly vote, advocating issues dealing with aged care and a mature perspective on national policy; hence the name "grey power".

Grey Power ran in the Western Australian election of 1989, garnering 5.2% of the total lower house vote. The last election which Grey Power contested was the South Australian election of 1997, but then it only managed to receive 1.6% of the South Australian Legislative Council vote.

The best result Grey Power ever achieved was at the 1994 Taylor by-election in South Australia, at state level. Without a Liberal candidate in the running on this occasion, Grey Power managed to get 13% of the primary vote, and finished second after preferences had been distributed, acquiring 27% of the vote. Labor retained the seat.

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