Pauline Hanson rejects claims she wants to ‘end’ compulsory superannuation amid alarm bells from Labor

Pauline Hanson has expressed public support for compulsory superannuation after accusing critics of taking her call for a greater flexibility of the pension scheme “out of context”.

The One Nation senator took to social media on Sunday to clarify her position on the contribution after declaring in a morning TV interview that the super system was broken.

Senator Hanson has told News24 her minor party would support an expansion of early superannuation access to assist individuals to help with “crisis” housing and medical treatment expenses.

“A lot of Australians are doing it tough now and struggling to pay off their mortgages,” she told Sunday Agenda.

“In some ways, I feel that you should give them their money now and let them help them with the cost of living.

“Superannuation should be lightened up a bit so people can utilise this money in times of crisis.

“It is their money; they’ve sacrificed it in lieu of pay. So, in a lot of cases, people want it.”

But her comments drew criticism from Treasurer Jim Chalmers who accused Senator Hanson of wanting to “destroy” Australia’s retirement savings scheme.

“One Nation wants to destroy the compulsory superannuation system, just like the Liberals and the Nationals,” he said.

“They are all a threat to the retirement incomes and economic security of Australian workers.

“This is the single biggest threat to the superannuation system in four decades.

“Our opponents have a dangerous and divisive anti-worker, anti-super ideology which will make Australians worse off.”

Senator Hanson claimed her words had been taken “out of context” and accusations she wanted to “end” compulsory super were “false”.

“While Australians are in the middle of a cost of living crisis and struggling to pay their mortgage, they are being forced to lock away 12 per cent of their weekly pay,” she said.

“I’m not calling for an ‘end’ to compulsory super as the media has falsely claimed.

“But Australians should be able to access their money more easily if they need it for a house, medical needs or other costs.

“Your superannuation belongs to you. It does not belong to the government and it does not belong to the super funds.”

Dr Chalmers also hit out at shadow housing Minister Andrew Bragg for saying during a National Press Club address on Wednesday that compulsory superannuation “a loss of liberty”.

Mr Bragg had claimed that compulsory super was a “strange but huge illiberal experiment” and questioned the point of the scheme which he said gave “no public finance benefit and minimal personal benefit”.

“Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg called it ‘a loss of liberty’ and described super for young workers as ‘super for cats and dogs’,” Dr Chalmers said.

“The Liberals, Nationals and One Nation will destroy the superannuation system if they get the chance.”

Mr Bragg had defended his speech during an appearance on News24 earlier on Sunday.

“It’s very clear that if you want to have a safe retirement, then housing is at the core of that,” he said.

“And so we have, for the last few elections, had a policy which looks at the nexus between super and housing, and that is something that is still under review.”