Thank you for your email to the Freedom of Information section of the
Department of Finance (Finance).  We have received your email and will
endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible.

 

You may view Finance’s Freedom of Information procedures and processes on
[1]http://www.finance.gov.au/foi/foi.html

 

Further information relating to Freedom of Information can be found on the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s [2]website.

 

[3]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

Freedom of Information

Legal Services Branch

Department of Finance

 

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UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Sally,

 

Thank you for your email to the Department of Finance (Finance)
requesting:

 

I would like to know whether Australian politicians have a set age at
which they can access their pension, just like other Australians have
their set at 65 years old.

 

Although you have sent the email to [1][Finance request email], your email does
not fulfil the requirements of a request under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act) as your email relates to a question, rather than
seeking access to a document.  Although your email is not a valid request
under the FOI Act, we provide the following answer to your question
outside of the FOI Act framework.

 

The Parliamentary Superannuation Handbook is publicly available and
contains the answer to your question.  An extract from the Handbook is
shown below:

 

DEFERRAL OF PENSION TO AGE 55 FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS

 

51.       Certain categories of PCSS members are not entitled to receive
their parliamentary pension before the age of 55 (the age 55 restriction).
These categories are as follows.

·         PCSS members who joined the Parliament on or after 10 November
2001.

-        The age 55 restriction does not apply to PCSS members who joined
the scheme before 2001 and have continuously remained in the Parliament.
If they qualify for a pension they can receive this regardless of age from
the time of their retirement. 

·         PCSS members who were re-elected to Parliament after 2001 and
were previously entitled to a pension under the PCSS before the age of 55.

52.       When the age 55 restriction applies, the option to convert part
of the pension to a lump sum benefit is also deferred until age 55. The
rate of pension payable at age 55 will be based on the salaries payable at
that time and from time to time thereafter.

53.       The age 55 restriction does not apply if the member's retirement
is on invalidity grounds, regardless of age.  The arrangements at page 3
will continue to apply.

54.       A pension that has been deferred may be paid before age 55 if
the Trust considers that, because of ill health, the member is incapable
of performing the duties of a parliamentarian.  Any decision to activate
the pension would be subject to review on a regular basis by the Trust.

55.       Also, the Trust can decide to pay part of the deferred pension
early in special circumstances where the former member is in severe
financial hardship or on compassionate grounds.  When the pension
ultimately becomes payable at age 55 it will be reduced to take account of
these payments.

56.       Reversionary benefits will continue to be available to the
eligible spouse or eligible children of all members who die in service. 
Also, eligible spouse or eligible children will receive a reversionary
pension on the death of a former parliamentarian whose pension is deferred
before age 55.

 

We trust this information is of assistance to you. 

 

Regards,

[2]Department of Finance and Deregulation

FOI Officer

Legal Services Branch

Corporate Services Division

Department of Finance

T: 02 6215 1783 E: [email address]

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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