Sent:	Tuesday, 30 January 2001 1:28 AM
To:	super.sen@aph.gov.au
Subject:	The benefit design of Commonwealth public sector and defence force unfunded superannuation funds and schemes 

The Secretary,

The Senate Select Committee on Superannuation and Financial Services
 
As a current CSS superannuation contributor I am concerned that the rules governing the calculation of a deferred pension option are being reviewed.  Several years ago members were offered a clear choice between staying in the old CSS scheme or transferring over to the then new PSS scheme.  Members were informed on the benefits of both schemes and obviously made their minds up based on which scheme offered the best retirement options for their particular situation.  In my particular case, I was always intending to retire at around 55 years of age and on doing the relevant calculations on both schemes decided I was better off remaining in the CSS and using the resignation and preserve till 55 option.  I have since been planning my retirement and organising my financial affairs based on this retirement option and I am sure many other members are doing likewise based on their selected scheme and selected retirement option as calculated using the present rules.  It would surely be a miscarriage of justice to introduce changes which effectively made retrospective alterations to the pension calculation rules for people only a few years from retirement (in my case 3 years).  This seems particularly unjust in light of the fact that members were offered such a clear choice between two super schemes based on existing rules.  The Government would infact be seen as deceitful if it were to change the retirement options for any of the goverment superannuation schemes for existing members as it would mean there was no fare choice offered in the first place.
 
Regards,
Peter Trevithick
Phone 08 85232235 (Home)
Address:  3 Harbison Court,
               Gawler East,
               Sth Australia 5118