Overview
Successive governments have allowed taxpayer dollars to fund gold-plated, non-means-tested pensions for retired politicians who were elected before 2004 under the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme (PCSS). This outdated and unfair system currently costs Australians an estimated $730 million over the next decade—money that should be redirected to fund essential community services.
I am calling for an immediate abolition of the PCSS pension scheme and its replacement with a means-tested pension in line with what everyday Australians receive. The savings from this measure will be directly reinvested into Men’s and Women’s Health Centres across the country, ensuring funding is allocated to those who actually need support rather than to a select group of entitled former politicians.
Key Policy Commitments
Abolish the gold-plated political pension:
- All former politicians currently receiving taxpayer-funded pensions under the PCSS will be transitioned to standard means-tested pensions, like every other Australian.
- Politicians will only be entitled to superannuation contributions under the standard retirement system, the same as all Australian workers.
Reallocate $730 million in savings to fund community health centres:
- These budgeted taxpayer funds will be redirected to establish and expand Men’s and Women’s Health Centres across Australia, ensuring real community impact.
- Every major town and city will receive funding to establish fully operational Men’s and Women’s Health Centres, including:
- Men’s Health Centres focused on mental health, suicide prevention, men’s legal and health services, and domestic violence prevention and corrective programs.
- Women’s Health Centres offering support for domestic violence survivors, mental health services, and medical assistance tailored to the needs of women in crisis.
Ensure fairness in retirement benefits for politicians:
- Politicians should not receive a taxpayer-funded pension that is not means-tested, while ordinary Australians must work and qualify based on financial need.
- Any future government officials will have no special pension entitlements, only standard superannuation like all Australians.
Why This Policy Matters
It stops entitled, former politicians from living off the taxpayer forever.
- The current system allows retired politicians to draw six-figure pensions while ordinary Australians struggle with cost-of-living pressures.
- Taxpayer money should fund essential services, not luxury retirements for career politicians.
It redirects funds to real people who need them most.
- Instead of wasting $730 million on former politicians, this policy funds community-based health centres that will serve men, women, and families in need.
- The money is already allocated in the budget—this is not a new tax or an extra spending measure.
It ensures true political accountability.
- Politicians should not be entitled to lifetime financial privilege at the expense of everyday Australians.
- Future government officials will no longer be eligible for special treatment, ending political entitlement once and for all.
Conclusion
This policy ensures that taxpayer funds are used for public good, not personal enrichment. The abolition of the PCSS pension scheme will free up hundreds of millions to directly benefit the Australian people, rather than funding extravagant retirements for politicians.
This is about fairness, accountability, and putting Australians first. Let’s end political retirement rorts and invest in real solutions for Australian men and women instead.
