Australian researchers call for gender-fair super overhaul
A University of Sydney policy paper advocates for significant changes to Australia’s retirement income framework, warning that current superannuation, tax benefits, and pension policies perpetuate gender disparities.
The Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work proposes 10 full policy guidelines, urging a unified strategy encompassing superannuation, age pensions, personal savings, and housing.
Tackling Disparities
The study highlights that a superannuation system tied to earnings perpetuates workplace inequalities into retirement. It further notes that tax advantages disproportionately favor men, who generally have higher incomes and larger superannuation balances.
“Typically, unequal superannuation outcomes are framed as individual behavioral issues, with interventions focused on supporting increased annual contributions or increased labour market participation,” the paper said.
These guidelines were developed during a multidisciplinary symposium at the AIRAANZ 2026 Conference in Sydney last January, supported by Women in Super and a grant from the Hewett family in memory of Helen Hewett, a co-founder.
Key Policy Initiatives
The paper outlines 10 priorities, including ensuring a fair and sufficient retirement income system, evaluating sustainability beyond government expenditure, and maintaining a focus on economic security and retirement living costs.
Additional priorities involve addressing workplace inequalities, enhancing universal support systems, and designing retirement policies that consider renters rather than assuming homeownership.
The study also stresses the need to acknowledge that couples may not combine finances or share access to superannuation and other assets, and to incorporate the experiences and needs of First Nations women in policy development and oversight.
Overhauling Superannuation
A key recommendation is the reform of superannuation tax benefits, with the paper arguing that estate planning and wealth management opportunities have shifted the system’s focus from funding retirement living expenses.
“The tax treatment of superannuation has obscured its purpose and created opportunities for estate planning and family wealth management that reproduce intergenerational inequalities,” it said.
While recent tax benefit changes have somewhat reduced inequality, the paper contends that they have not fully addressed the issue.
Among retirees with superannuation, the average balance difference between men and women is approximately 25 percent. The paper challenges the assumptions that retirees own their homes and that couples equally share financial resources.
The authors advocate for individual assessments of age pension eligibility, arguing that couple-based income tests undermine women’s financial autonomy. They also call for greater access to information about partners’ superannuation and increased involvement in retirement planning.
