Labor is expanding its attack on the federal government's economic performance, with shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers linking low wage growth to superannuation balances.
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A legislated 0.5 per cent increase in the super guarantee rate is due in July, but the government is considering extending a freeze while the economy is recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.
Wages growth and retirement incomes have been inadequate for too many Australians for too long, Mr Chalmers will tell a major conference by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia on Friday.
"The last super freeze didn't spur wages growth," Mr Chalmers will say.
Australia's super guarantee has been frozen at 9.5 per cent for almost seven years due to a political deal.
In that time, wages growth has averaged barely 2 per cent, compared with about 3.3 per cent in the six years prior to the freeze.
Mr Chalmers says Labor welcomes a big national conversation about jobs, wages, super and retirement incomes, and what kind of recovery Australia wants to pursue as it comes out of the pandemic.
"We'd prefer some kind of bipartisan consensus but if what's needed here is a clash of political armies, then so be it," the shadow treasurer will say.
Labor is ready to challenge the government over stagnant wages at the next election. Mr Chalmers said he's on side of the vast majority of working Australians who are struggling with stagnant wages and worry if they can afford a decent retirement.
"If this Prime Minister, this Treasurer and their government was prepared to use a once-in-a-generation pandemic to come after wages and super - just imagine how emboldened they'd be in a fourth term."
Superannuation Minister Jane Hume is also due to speak at the conference.
The government is still considering the Retirement Income Review final report, which was made public in November last year.