Page 5836 - Week 18 - Tuesday, 10 December 1991
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Mr Berry: The Commonwealth one is 20-odd per cent.
MR DUBY: Mr Berry interjects that the Commonwealth one may well be above that. In some cases, I believe, it is as high as 24 per cent. On top of that Mr Stevenson also has to take into account the fact that we currently have a 3 per cent national superannuation scheme. So, even for the most disadvantaged employees contributing to an employer funded superannuation scheme, you are having employer contribution levels of the order of 19 per cent plus the 3 per cent which goes in as part of the Commonwealth superannuation. Indeed, I believe that that national superannuation scheme will rise from 3 per cent to 5 per cent. I have a cutting from the paper of 5 December which shows that it may well eventually rise to 12 per cent for all Australians.
The purpose of that national superannuation scheme, Mr Stevenson, is to cover the employees in the community generally who are not members of superannuation schemes at all. They are people who might be casual labourers, et cetera. They require to be looked after. That is why the Commonwealth Government has decided that eventually a 12 per cent minimum contribution rate by the employers over a period of time will have to be introduced or will be appropriate.
I again say that, under the level of contributions by the employer into an employee-employer scheme for public servants working in the ACT Government Service, it is 19 per cent plus 3 per cent national. That makes a 22 per cent employer contribution plus, of course, the 5 per cent that the employee is putting in himself. That, to my way of thinking, adds up to 27 per cent.
If we as members are receiving an extraordinary bonus of 2 per cent additional to what every employee in the ACT Government Service is receiving, well, frankly, I have no hesitation in taking it, given, first of all, the lack of permanent employment, which I think many of us here are well aware of, and, secondly, the nature of the employment, where we are not on fixed hours, as you are aware. As you have often complained, your door is always open to the public, at all hours of the day and night.
Mr Berry: Of course, he can take time off any time and go to Chinchilla and chair meetings down in Victoria.
MR DUBY: Precisely. So, if we are getting paid an additional 2 per cent on what the ACT Government employees are receiving, well, frankly, I think I am entitled to it. I think every other member here would nod their head and say, "Yes, I agree". What you are doing, Mr Stevenson, is this: Again you are being devious. These figures have been explained to you in the past and you are comparing a - - -
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