How Aussies flushed $3000 down the toilet

A new report reveals how Australians flushed more than $3000 down the toilet by doing one thing during the pandemic.

Australians who dipped into their superannuation during the height of the pandemic are up to $3644 worse off today, new research has revealed.

More than three million Aussies withdrew a total of $36.4 billion from their super accounts last year as part of the early super access scheme, intended to help those financially struggling during COVID-19.

But if that money had instead remained untouched in Australia’s largest superannuation funds, the figure would have ballooned to $41.1 billion by now.

It means Aussies have already lost $4.7 billion in returns in the one year since the scheme was launched, according to new analysis by the McKell Institute.

After hitting a low in April, 2020, Australian super fund indexes jumped 15-20 per cent in value as the economy bounced back.

Anyone who withdrew the maximum $20,000 allowable under the early access scheme would have already foregone up to $3644 of investment growth, according to the institute’s report, Buy high, sell low?The early super access scheme and foregone returns on investment.

Australians who dipped into their superannuation did so during a five-year low, while the market has begun to bounce back, meaning millions will miss out on increasing returns. Picture: McKell Institute via NCA NewsWire

McKell Institute executive director Michael Buckland said using the early super access scheme to get quick money when the pandemic hit was “worse than using a payday lender”.

“$4.7 billion dollars that could have been invested in the retirement savings of thousands of Australians has gone missing,” Mr Buckland said.

“If you took out the maximum $20,000 you were allowed to, then that’s cost you $3600 so far. Of course that loss only compounds over time.

“Of all the many ways the government could have helped people get through 2020, this had to be among the most costly.

“Instead of using its own borrowing capacity to help people, the government forced desperate citizens to miss out on an investment windfall they would otherwise be enjoying now.”

The federal early access scheme aimed to support people adversely financially affected by COVID-19 to help to meet expenses.

Those who took advantage of it weren’t required to reveal how they spent the money, but were advised to carefully consider the impact of accessing super early.

The McKell Institute earlier warned against the policy to expand early access to $20,000 to people who were unemployed, receiving certain government payments or whose hours or trade had declined by a fifth.

It was concerned the policy would drive people to withdraw their super at the bottom of the market, which would ensure they missed out on the growth of their retirement savings as the market corrected later in 2020.

The McKell institute’s report says Australians have already lost $4.7 billion in returns in just one year of the scheme. Picture: McKell Institute via NCA NewsWire

“Unfortunately, this prediction appears to have been accurate,” the report authors said.

“As a result, the early release of super became one of the most expensive welfare measures of all time.”

The report said there was no doubt many Australians needed government support for the first time as a result of COVID-19, with ABS data revealing the accessed super was used to pay for mortgages, rent, bills, or personal debt.

However, the report argued the early release of super was one of the most expensive ways to fund these items.

The super losses were most pronounced for young workers who were most likely to embrace the early access scheme, it found.

“The government should have explored alternative forms of stimulus to protect Australians from the worst effects of recession, without compromising their retirement adequacy in the long term,” the report said.