Our free monthly Lunch & Learn sessions are designed to give you access to speakers you otherwise wouldn't get a chance to hear from, on a range of topics, in an informal way.

There is no doubt the housing crisis is worsening and there is desperate need for a solution, however is super the answer? Join our guest speakers Misha Schubert, Super Members Council CEO and Aime Loydell, Super Members Council Senior Manager of Advocacy and Economic Research as they recap the robust evidence base that shows why withdrawing super for house deposits would just hike house prices, push home ownership further out of reach, make Australians poorer in retirement, and worsen economic inequality and income insecurity for women.  

The policy idea has been discredited by a long line of respected economists – for good reason. 

In a cautionary tale, New Zealand introduced a similar policy in 2010 – and it inflated house prices. House prices are growing at twice the rate of Australia up to the market peak in 2022, home ownership rates fell by 7 per cent for Kiwis in their 30s, and mortgage stress is increasing. Since 2014, the total number of New Zealand first home buyers taking out riskier (high LVR) home loans has tripled. 

New modelling in Australia also shows such a policy would hike house prices here by up to 10%, making it even harder for Australians to afford to buy their own home. And a long list of Australia’s top economists - including Saul Eslake, Chris Richardson, Luci Ellis, Richard Holden - have warned demand-side measures just further drive-up prices. 

As a strong voice advocating to protect and advance the best financial interests of 11 million everyday Australians who invest their retirement savings in profit-to-member super, the Super Members Council has a key role to ensure policy discussions are informed by robust evidence. 

As CEO of the Super Members Council, Misha leads a dedicated team advocating for the interests of more than 11 million Australians who have over $1.5 trillion in retirement savings invested in profit-to-member super. SMC’s purpose is to protect and advance the interests of super fund members throughout their lives, advocating to ensure super policy is stable, effective, and equitable. As SMC’s Senior Manager, Research and Advocacy, Aime’s key senior role in research and government relations ensures a robust evidence base informs policy in the best interests of 11 million Australians.