1. Industry Super Australia released data that 1 in 5 Tasmanians have withdrawn from their superannuation and more than 10,000 have emptied their savings during COVID-19. Women’s Legal Service Tasmania raised concerns about the early superannuation release scheme, as women with low incomes are disproportionately impacted.
2. ABS payroll data revealed the unemployment rate for Victorian women was four times higher than the rate of men, for July. “What stunned us in the first round of stimulus is why so many measures were directed at trade and bricks-and-mortar construction when it’s clear the industries that have laid off significant numbers are in gender-based women’s industries,” said Tanja Kovac, CEO of GenVic (Victoria’s peak body for gender equity)..
3. Former AMP employee, Julia Szlakowski says AMP made “persistent and misleading” efforts to downplay sexual harassment claims against newly appointed chief executive, Boe Pahari. Ms Szlakowski is demanded AMP release the “full text” of her complaint to share all the details of the seriousness of the claim against Pahari, in which Pahari paid $500,000 to settle before he was promoted.
4. Financial Services Minister Jane Hume has said a “more efficient” reform to Australia’s superannuation system could be unveiled during the October federal budget. Ms Hume told the AFR, “it will be up to the Prime Minister and the Treasurer. There’s so much going on and there are so many moving pieces in response to the COVID-19 pandemic”, highlighting some weaknesses of the superannuation system that have been exposed by the pandemic.
5. Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, has postponed the New Zealand elections by four weeks due to the reappearance of COVID-19 in the country. The elections will now be held on October 17 and the PM said she had consulted all political parties to ensure the decision was “as free from partisan political interests as possible.”
