Shorten agenda stab in the back
I HAVE worked for more than 40 years as a tradesman and paid my taxes all my life.
Years ago our PM Paul Keating said that in the future we would need to look after ourselves better financially as the government would not be able to afford to pay for everyone to have a pension.
I took these words on, with the thought to start saving a little extra each week so I didn’t have to rely on the government of the day.
I can look after my wife and myself I thought. I missed a holiday here and there, family outings and the other small comforts, working extra hours paying taxes with my final goal to be able to look after my small family.
Finally, years later and on retirement I have accumulated our nest egg, which I may add, must now last us some 30 years ahead, a very proud of moment. I should be self- reliant, ( no part pension) and no government handouts.
Well I thought on paper I had amassed a small fortune but my financial adviser brought me back down to earth and said, it was not much really. This must last you and your wife the next 30 odd years, but if invested wisely, with no government interference or rash rule changes your self- funded pension should be enough to last you both out.
Fast forward three years, along comes Labor’s Bill Shorten who looks at my nest egg, declares I’m rich and should close up any tax benefits so he can greedily spend my money. He says it doesn’t really affect anyone’s shares or dividends payments and only a small few will be affected, ( mainly the rich, I’m not rich). Well Mr Shorten it most certainly does affect the value of both my shares and dividends. This affects the taxation of our investment portfolio, decisions that have already been made after consultation with our financial adviser. This is so wrong to go after the very people who have scraped and worked their guts out so they can have some comfort in their retirement.
Bill thinks pensioners are old and an easy target. If he can get this money grab approved, I strongly believe that next, the change will be to abolish our tax- free status for super payouts for over 60s. Why would he stop at just one attack if he can get away with it.
Pensioners really have had enough of governments trying to attack superannuation savings. They think that us older generation are an easy target, and don’t matter. Think again.
The people really only have limited ways to respond, and one is our vote. Herbert was won by a mere 50 votes – think about that for a minute Mr Shorten.
You say you are for the working class, well that’s what my wife and I are, normal working class people, who until yesterday, I thought you represented.
Bill Shorten you have stabbed the worker fair in the middle of the back. TOM RYAN Jensen