ࡱ> ikh` bjbjss 0D$>FFFP4$>$"oooZ$\$\$\$\$\$\$$e'h),$[M"o[[$1$ggg[$@g[Z$ggF"" }Fv^"$$0$f",)S)"")"to^gQLooo$$Xooo$[[[[>>> B>>>B>>   Superannuated Commonwealth Officers Association Inc.  Federal Office PO Box 107 MAWSON ACT 2607 Phone: (02) 6286 7977 Fax: (02) 6286 7999 E-mail: fedoffice@scoa.asn.au ABN: 66 313 469 900  24 May 2006 The Commissioner Human Rights Commission Level 8 Piccadilly Tower 133 Castlereagh Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Dear Commissioner, SUPERANNUATION REVERSIONARY BENEFIT ENTITLEMENTS FOR SAME SEX COUPLES I am writing to you in relation to your Inquiry into entitlements for same sex couples, in particular superannuation reversionary benefits. Our association, SCOA, represents the retirement interests of former Commonwealth and Territory superannuants. It represents approximately 700,000 Australians including the spouses/partners of superannuation contributors and those receiving a Commonwealth superannuation pension. The superannuation entitlements of those we represent are a key priority for SCOA. Members of same sex couples have approached SCOA expressing understandable concern regarding their current non-eligibility for reversionary superannuation benefits. SCOAs Federal Council, its peak policy making body, has endorsed the claims of same sex couples for reversionary superannuation benefits. I have raised this matter with the Federal Government through correspondence with the Minister for Finance and Administration, Sentaor Nick Minchin. Unfortunately, his responses have been less than encouraging. It is SCOAs understanding that the Government indicated support for superannuation reversionary benefits for members of same sex couples when it introduced legislation, the Superannuation (Entitlements of same sex couples) Bill 1998, in 2003. You will note in the attached letter from the CSS Board dated 9 December 2004, to one of our members, that the legislation introduced in 2003 excluded the Commonwealth superannuation schemes. However, information received from the Department of Finance and Administration suggests that while the legislation makes it permissible for the trustees of superannuation funds to pay reversionary benefits to members of same sex couples, it is not mandatory, instead being at the discretion of the trustees. This is, in SCOAs view, a most unfair and discriminatory arrangement one which allows moral judgments to be made regarding the retirement income security of some Australians on the grounds purely of their sexuality. The latest advice from Senator Minchin is that before same sex Commonwealth superannuant couples can receive reversionary benefits, amendments will be necessary to the relevant Acts which govern the several Commonwealth superannuation schemes and that there are complexities in making those changes. You will note that Senator Minchin also says that there are budgetary considerations, which of course is indisputable. However, they should surely be less significant in a budget context when such an important natural justice issue is involved. Please refer to the attached correspondence between SCOA and Senator Minchin. A matter of considerable concern to SCOA is that, even if the relevant legislation covering Commonwealth superannuation schemes were amended, we are advised as mentioned above that the payment of reversionary benefits will be at the discretion of the trustees of the Commonwealth funds, as it is for the trustees of private sector superannuation funds. For the reasons outlined earlier in this submission, SCOA objects strongly to this discretionary power being held by the funds trustees. SCOA asks that your Inquiry consider reversionary superannuation benefits being paid compulsorily to members of same sex couples, so putting to an end the outdated and unfair discriminatory rules covering Commonwealth superannuants. In what is regarded as a fair society, it is most unjust that some Australian same sex couples receive superannuation reversionary benefits while others are denied. I have also attached a newspaper clipping from the Melbourne Star which discusses the issue of superannuation reversionary benefits for same sex couples. Thank you for the opportunity for SCOA to submit this important matter for consideration by your Inquiry. Yours sincerely, John Coleman Federal Secretary     PAGE  PAGE 2 Building a secure retirement ?@APksȾ몗p\p\I<h\ OJQJmH sH y($hVhhbCJOJQJaJmH sH 'hVh4}SCJOJQJ]aJmH sH 'hVh;CJOJQJ]aJmH sH $hVh;CJOJQJaJmH sH $hVh4}SCJOJQJaJmH sH 'hVh4}S5CJOJQJaJmH sH h4}SCJmH sH $hVh4}SCJOJQJaJmH sH h4}SCJOJQJaJmH sH h4}SmH sH jh4}SUmH sH #.?AP[k  !gddgd\  @ddd@&@&d 9 = > D O P d e znnanTDhh5CJOJQJaJhg05CJOJQJaJhu<5CJOJQJaJhg0CJOJQJaJh CJOJQJaJhqCJOJQJaJhg0h87CJOJQJaJhg0hqCJOJQJaJhg0h$CJOJQJaJhg0hg0CJOJQJaJhu<h2jh7h\ 5U\^JmHnHsH tH uhVh4}SOJQJmH sH  ' > N O P d e 8 9 S T M N hi|}gdg0gd& T   L M j o F Y  Cmno 3gis˿˿˳˿˳˳˧hg0hGECJOJQJaJhGECJOJQJaJhyCJOJQJaJh'YCJOJQJaJhu<CJOJQJaJhg0CJOJQJaJhkCJOJQJaJhqCJOJQJaJhCJOJQJaJhhq5CJOJQJaJ2;[ #.Qahw{3802AF}ии踬ĸ謸hM<CJOJQJaJh.CJOJQJaJh.CJOJQJaJh+CJOJQJaJhu<CJOJQJaJhyCJOJQJaJhCJOJQJaJh CJOJQJaJhg0CJOJQJaJh'YCJOJQJaJ4 !pt k'-2?MN\]imp.=WXklĸܸܸ踬踬謔x܈hyhy6CJOJQJaJhGECJOJQJaJh87CJOJQJaJh.CJOJQJaJhCJOJQJaJh'YCJOJQJaJhkCJOJQJaJh+CJOJQJaJhyCJOJQJaJh.CJOJQJaJhBCJOJQJaJ*lmrs &`#$gd7gd&2Sqsļ~$hHqohdQCJOJQJaJmH sH hdQmH sH hK0JmHnHuhdQ hdQ0JjhdQ0JUh&djh&dUh&CJOJQJaJhCJOJQJaJh.CJOJQJaJh.CJOJQJaJhM<CJOJQJaJ$gd&$a$$d$dNa$ &`#$gd7 Y 0&P 1h:p.. 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