Diana Crossan said successive governments had failed in their duty to taxpayers by sweeping repeated requests to address the question of future retirement income funding under the carpet.
Ms Crossan hit out after the Government ducked a response to the Retirement Commission's 2007 report warning that the cost of future pensions must be debated now to give future retirees time to adjust to any changes.
In a letter from Finance Minister Bill English and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, the Government blames current economic certainty for postponing the debate until 2010.
But Ms Crossan said the number of over-65s was set to double to 1.1million by 2032.
The Government needed to put some figures to the long-term cost of pensions so the issue could be properly debated. She was disappointed at its response.
"They're a three-year government who don't want to take on this long-term issue, just like their predecessor. Not getting the figures out there and having a discussion is a failing," Ms Crossan said.
"It's simple, they don't want to lose any votes over something that won't impact them it's not for now, it's for later. It's a policy they just hope would go away."
The 2007 report's recommendations include raising taxes, increasing the residency qualification period, reducing super payments to retirees and, most controversially, lifting the pension age.
A spokesman for Mr English said last night that the Government had made it "crystal clear" the retirement age and current entitlements would not be changed.
That commitment had been clearly costed in the 2009 Budget, which looked ahead four years.
A spokeswoman for Ms Bennett said it was not surprising that the commissioner felt passionately about the subject. But her report had been prepared in very different times.
"We look forward to her report next year, which will more accurately reflect the [economic] situation we are in currently."
Ms Crossan said that, although Britain, Australia and other countries had made decisions on lifting the retirement age, "our government is not willing to make the effort to address what could soon be a super funding crisis".
"We don't want old people begging in the streets. No country does." [rc]
© 2009 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
July 24, 2009
NEW ZEALAND: Elderly will be left begging
.
WELLINGTON, North Island / The Dominion Post / July 24, 2009
By Kris Hall - The Dominion Post
Future generations of retired Kiwis will be "begging in the streets" if governments continue to turn a blind eye to a looming superannuation crisis, the retirement commissioner warns.
Diana Crossan said successive governments had failed in their duty to taxpayers by sweeping repeated requests to address the question of future retirement income funding under the carpet.
Ms Crossan hit out after the Government ducked a response to the Retirement Commission's 2007 report warning that the cost of future pensions must be debated now to give future retirees time to adjust to any changes.
In a letter from Finance Minister Bill English and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, the Government blames current economic certainty for postponing the debate until 2010.
But Ms Crossan said the number of over-65s was set to double to 1.1million by 2032.
The Government needed to put some figures to the long-term cost of pensions so the issue could be properly debated. She was disappointed at its response.
"They're a three-year government who don't want to take on this long-term issue, just like their predecessor. Not getting the figures out there and having a discussion is a failing," Ms Crossan said.
"It's simple, they don't want to lose any votes over something that won't impact them it's not for now, it's for later. It's a policy they just hope would go away."
The 2007 report's recommendations include raising taxes, increasing the residency qualification period, reducing super payments to retirees and, most controversially, lifting the pension age.
A spokesman for Mr English said last night that the Government had made it "crystal clear" the retirement age and current entitlements would not be changed.
That commitment had been clearly costed in the 2009 Budget, which looked ahead four years.
A spokeswoman for Ms Bennett said it was not surprising that the commissioner felt passionately about the subject. But her report had been prepared in very different times.
"We look forward to her report next year, which will more accurately reflect the [economic] situation we are in currently."
Ms Crossan said that, although Britain, Australia and other countries had made decisions on lifting the retirement age, "our government is not willing to make the effort to address what could soon be a super funding crisis".
"We don't want old people begging in the streets. No country does." [rc]
© 2009 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Diana Crossan said successive governments had failed in their duty to taxpayers by sweeping repeated requests to address the question of future retirement income funding under the carpet.
Ms Crossan hit out after the Government ducked a response to the Retirement Commission's 2007 report warning that the cost of future pensions must be debated now to give future retirees time to adjust to any changes.
In a letter from Finance Minister Bill English and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, the Government blames current economic certainty for postponing the debate until 2010.
But Ms Crossan said the number of over-65s was set to double to 1.1million by 2032.
The Government needed to put some figures to the long-term cost of pensions so the issue could be properly debated. She was disappointed at its response.
"They're a three-year government who don't want to take on this long-term issue, just like their predecessor. Not getting the figures out there and having a discussion is a failing," Ms Crossan said.
"It's simple, they don't want to lose any votes over something that won't impact them it's not for now, it's for later. It's a policy they just hope would go away."
The 2007 report's recommendations include raising taxes, increasing the residency qualification period, reducing super payments to retirees and, most controversially, lifting the pension age.
A spokesman for Mr English said last night that the Government had made it "crystal clear" the retirement age and current entitlements would not be changed.
That commitment had been clearly costed in the 2009 Budget, which looked ahead four years.
A spokeswoman for Ms Bennett said it was not surprising that the commissioner felt passionately about the subject. But her report had been prepared in very different times.
"We look forward to her report next year, which will more accurately reflect the [economic] situation we are in currently."
Ms Crossan said that, although Britain, Australia and other countries had made decisions on lifting the retirement age, "our government is not willing to make the effort to address what could soon be a super funding crisis".
"We don't want old people begging in the streets. No country does." [rc]
© 2009 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
