Editorial: Picking on 65s+ not right

Labour leader Andrew Little did himself no favours with his comment. Photo / NZME.

Labour leader Andrew Little did himself no favours with his comment that it was unfair to work alongside someone who earned the same salary, but also earned a pension.

And in saying that superannuation is going to cost the country $25 billion in the next 15 years, it sounds to me like he was reinforcing the idea that those over 65 need to bugger off to their warm slippers, rather than double-dipping from the cash pool.

It is hardly unusual in our culture to work alongside those who are over 65.

There's plenty of baby boomers out there and, provided they haven't succumbed to heart disease or cancer or a fatty liver from too much sugar, they are fit and robust and happy to contribute, just the same as a youngster fresh from their university capping parade.

The law is clear: you paid your taxes, so at 65 you're entitled to the pension.

Perhaps medical science has put the super in superannuitants, but what are we complaining about? A healthy 65-plus person is being far less of a burden on the cash pool than the middle-aged obese diabetic or smoker.

And this idea of "means testing" the 65-plus crowd - where would you start? Do you start exploring the trusts, the accumulated assets built up over a lifetime? If a 65-plus person has two properties, should that penalise them?

Basically, Labour seem to be saying: if you do everything right, and you don't make a tit of your life, like a lot of idiots do, we'll be looking at your good fortune created by your good works and wisdom, and see if that can be cut back.

In the meantime, we throw millions of dollars at those who seemingly waste the air they breathe, in the name of welfare, bad health choices and crime.

I don't think it is a bad idea to consider raising the retirement age to 67, if it really is the case that our "elders", who are not remotely elderly, are powering along in their careers. Frankly, too much money is given out to those who don't use it properly. Why not have responsible people with two incomes, spending wisely, and keeping our economy circulating?

Andrew Bonallack is editor of the Wairarapa Times Age.