Which way forward for pension reform?

We need aim for a scenario where, as Karl Marx once put it, “[rewarding] labor [becomes] not only a means of life but life's prime want”.

Whereas Marx’s aim, here, of “exploding” the division of labour is not an immediately realisable prospect, what is reasonable and immediately achieveable is the preservation of a more generous retirement age. Here, the goal is for citizens to enjoy an earlier and more sustained retirement - with freedom and opportunity to commit to family, friends, community, self-development and/or civic activism. Indeed, to provide such opportunities to all citizens there is even a reasonable argument to shorten the working week.

A decent, fair and equitable pension system is core to the goal of social justice. Labor governments are elected - for many - in the hope they might implement real social reform.

Let us hope this Federal Labor government makes the most of this opportunity entrusted to them by the people.