Chery boss confirms iCar brand for Australia
The news was confirmed by Chery International president Zhang Guibling at the recent Shanghai motor show, where the new Chery-owned EV brand presented its three-model lineup comprising the 03, 03T and V23 compact electric SUVs.
While iCar was launched exclusively as an EV brand in China in April 2023, Chery's export boss indicated that Australia will also receive extended-range electric vehicle (EREV – dubbed by iCar as REV) powertrains, which he acknowledged were more suitable for the longer distance travelled by Australians.
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'iCar launched in China as an EV [brand]. But very quickly we will introduce REVs. The REV will address range anxiety, so I'm sure Australian customers will appreciate it,' said Mr Guibling.
'We are trying to make a difference. iCar is a completely different brand for Chery, and in the future we want to provide a different experience to different customers.'
No local launch timing or model rollout plan was provided for the iCar brand in Australia, but Mr Guibling confirmed EREV development was already underway. iCar V23 Credit: CarExpert
However, iCar will remain a brand name for China's domestic market only; for export markets including Australia, Chery's boxy adventure vehicle brand will assume the name iCaur due to a trademark dispute.
It's unclear whether Australians will be offered all three iCar EVs currently sold in China, all of which borrow their bluff design cues from hardcore off-road icons like the Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Suzuki Jimny.
The iCar 03 was first to launch in 2023, in both single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive forms, offering a CLTC range of up to 501km from CATL battery capacities of up to 69.7kWh, and featuring a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster and solar panels on the roof to increase range. iCar V23 Credit: CarExpert
It has since been rebadged for various markets including Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, with names such as the Jaecoo 6 and Chery J6.
The more rugged, higher-performance iCar 03T followed in 2024, bringing upgraded mechanicals, more overt off-road styling including wider wheel-arches, vertical LED lighting and extra off-road equipment.
The V23 is the newest, smallest and most distinctive member of the iCar family. The compact four-seat electric SUV gains a 15.4-inch touchscreen with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor, advanced driver assist systems, and both DC fast-charging and vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality. iCar 03T Credit: CarExpert
Priced from just RMB 99,800 ($A21,425) in China, the retro-styled V23 attracted more than 31,000 pre-orders within hours of its launch in China.
The entry-level version – with a 100kW and 180Nm electric motor, 47.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and approximately 301km of driving range on the lenient CLTC cycle – is also available with a slightly larger 59.9kWh battery, capable of delivering about 401km of driving range.
Flagship V23s – powered by a dual-motor powertrain with 155kW and 292Nm, an 81.8kWh NMC battery and 501km of claimed driving range – are priced from RMB139,800 (~A$31,000). iCar 03T Credit: CarExpert
Despite the relatively low outputs, iCar claims single-motor V23s can accelerate from 0-50km/h in 4.8 seconds, while dual-motor versions take 3.5 seconds. 0-100km/h sprint times haven't been disclosed.
Measuring 4220mm long, 1915mm wide and 1845mm tall on a 2730mm wheelbase, the V23 is larger across every dimension than the Suzuki Jimny XL, and has an approach angle of 43 degrees, a departure angle of 41 degrees and, in all-wheel drive guise, ground clearance of 212mm.
Single-motor versions are fitted with 19-inch wheels as standard, while dual-motor versions get 21-inch alloys. Under the skin there's five-link rear suspension, while buyers can also option off-road suitable tyres. iCar 03T Credit: CarExpert
In the rear, the two second-row seats can be folded flat, providing up to 774 litres of space.
CarExpert understands Chery Australia has been pushing for iCar's local launch for some time, following its relaunch as a factory distributor in 2023, when it released the Omoda 5 small SUV.
It was followed by the Tiggo 7 Pro mid-size SUV, and last year the larger Tiggo 8 Pro and the Tiggo 4 Pro light SUV, which has become its top-seller and helped drive a 114 per cent sales increase in 2024. iCar 03T Credit: CarExpert
Chery sales were up a further 216 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, and should continue to increase with the launch of more new models including plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8, plus a plugless hybrid version of the Tiggo 4 with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.
There's also a premium, three-row Tiggo 9 Hybrid on the way and expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2025 – possibly in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.
The latter would offer more performance from the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine backed by an electric motor and a larger 18.3kWh battery.
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Staff at the Australian-American tech company reportedly learnt that their jobs were axed via a prerecorded video from chief executive and co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes. Scott Farquhar, who stepped down as joint chief executive of Atlassian in September 2024, defended the move while speaking at the National Press Club on July 30. "We just can't dig our heels in and say the jobs of today will be the jobs in 20 years," Mr Farquhar said. "Some parts of our economy will grow significantly as AI makes them more productive, and some parts of our economy will shrink as we do that," he said. The Australian billionaire said he felt "privileged and blessed" to live in a country with a strong social safety net. He said Australians had "very strong skilling opportunities" that allowed job seekers to retrain in new areas. "I also think that if we say the burden of retraining sits on the companies that are making those changes, that can put us at a comparative disadvantage to other places in the world," he said. "We're always changing the number of people we have at Atlassian on a regular basis, and so there'll always be jobs we're adding." It comes less than a fortnight after contributing writer Kelli Mara Korducki published an article on Atlassian's Work Life, warning companies against replacing staff with AI. "Leaders should approach AI as a tool to support teams, not a mechanism to replace team members," the article said. "Think about it: You wouldn't expect a hammer to do the job of a carpenter. The same logic applies to transformative tech." Atlassian was contacted for comment. The former chief executive of software giant Atlassian has defended the company's decision to fire 150 workers, urging Australia to embrace AI technology. Staff at the Australian-American tech company reportedly learnt that their jobs were axed via a prerecorded video from chief executive and co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes. Scott Farquhar, who stepped down as joint chief executive of Atlassian in September 2024, defended the move while speaking at the National Press Club on July 30. "We just can't dig our heels in and say the jobs of today will be the jobs in 20 years," Mr Farquhar said. "Some parts of our economy will grow significantly as AI makes them more productive, and some parts of our economy will shrink as we do that," he said. The Australian billionaire said he felt "privileged and blessed" to live in a country with a strong social safety net. He said Australians had "very strong skilling opportunities" that allowed job seekers to retrain in new areas. 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Staff at the Australian-American tech company reportedly learnt that their jobs were axed via a prerecorded video from chief executive and co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes. Scott Farquhar, who stepped down as joint chief executive of Atlassian in September 2024, defended the move while speaking at the National Press Club on July 30. "We just can't dig our heels in and say the jobs of today will be the jobs in 20 years," Mr Farquhar said. "Some parts of our economy will grow significantly as AI makes them more productive, and some parts of our economy will shrink as we do that," he said. The Australian billionaire said he felt "privileged and blessed" to live in a country with a strong social safety net. He said Australians had "very strong skilling opportunities" that allowed job seekers to retrain in new areas. 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The truce in the tariffs war to allow time for talks allowed exporters and other traders to ramp up shipments in hopes of beating any higher tariffs that might follow. The meeting headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping mostly reiterated Beijing's priorities for the year, including a need to "unleash domestic demand", which has lagged, leading to a surge of exports by industries unable to find growth at home. It also stressed the need to promote jobs and prevent a "large-scale relapse into poverty". The economy "has demonstrated strong vitality and resilience", the Xinhua report said, but it acknowledged many risks and challenges. That includes reining in brutal competition that has led to damaging price wars among auto makers and some other manufacturers and managing excess capacity in some industries, it said. China's economy expanded at a 5.2 per cent annual pace in April-June, slowing slightly from the previous quarter. Even with the hiatus in higher tariffs, companies are feeling a pinch. Industrial profits in China fell 1.8 per cent in the first half of the year and 4.3 per cent in June, according to data released this week. China's top leaders have pledged to help companies slammed by higher US tariffs but are holding back on major moves after trade talks with the US kept businesses and planners in limbo. At their summer economic planning meeting, the powerful politburo of the ruling Communist Party pledged to stabilise foreign trade and investment. "We must assist foreign trade enterprises that have been severely impacted, strengthen financing support, and promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade," the official Xinhua News Agency said in reporting the closed-door meeting on Wednesday. It mentioned export tax rebates and free trade pilot zones but gave no other specifics. The inconclusive outcome of two days of trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden, leaves open the question of higher tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States. Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng said the two sides had agreed to work on extending a deadline for higher tariffs. The US side said the extension was discussed, but not decided. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters after the talks that President Donald Trump would decide whether to extend the August 12 deadline for an agreement or to let tariffs that have been paused for 90 days return to a higher level. "We haven't given the sign-off," Bessent said, though he emphasised that the talks had been "very constructive". China remains one of the biggest challenges for the Trump administration after it has struck deals over elevated tariff rates with other key trading partners, including Britain, Japan and the European Union. Many analysts had expected the Stockholm talks to result in an extension of current tariff levels, which stand at a US tariff of 30 per cent on Chinese goods and a Chinese tariff of 10 per cent on US products, far lower than the triple-digit percentage rates raised in April. The truce in the tariffs war to allow time for talks allowed exporters and other traders to ramp up shipments in hopes of beating any higher tariffs that might follow. The meeting headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping mostly reiterated Beijing's priorities for the year, including a need to "unleash domestic demand", which has lagged, leading to a surge of exports by industries unable to find growth at home. It also stressed the need to promote jobs and prevent a "large-scale relapse into poverty". The economy "has demonstrated strong vitality and resilience", the Xinhua report said, but it acknowledged many risks and challenges. That includes reining in brutal competition that has led to damaging price wars among auto makers and some other manufacturers and managing excess capacity in some industries, it said. China's economy expanded at a 5.2 per cent annual pace in April-June, slowing slightly from the previous quarter. Even with the hiatus in higher tariffs, companies are feeling a pinch. Industrial profits in China fell 1.8 per cent in the first half of the year and 4.3 per cent in June, according to data released this week. China's top leaders have pledged to help companies slammed by higher US tariffs but are holding back on major moves after trade talks with the US kept businesses and planners in limbo. At their summer economic planning meeting, the powerful politburo of the ruling Communist Party pledged to stabilise foreign trade and investment. "We must assist foreign trade enterprises that have been severely impacted, strengthen financing support, and promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade," the official Xinhua News Agency said in reporting the closed-door meeting on Wednesday. It mentioned export tax rebates and free trade pilot zones but gave no other specifics. The inconclusive outcome of two days of trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden, leaves open the question of higher tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States. Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng said the two sides had agreed to work on extending a deadline for higher tariffs. The US side said the extension was discussed, but not decided. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters after the talks that President Donald Trump would decide whether to extend the August 12 deadline for an agreement or to let tariffs that have been paused for 90 days return to a higher level. "We haven't given the sign-off," Bessent said, though he emphasised that the talks had been "very constructive". China remains one of the biggest challenges for the Trump administration after it has struck deals over elevated tariff rates with other key trading partners, including Britain, Japan and the European Union. Many analysts had expected the Stockholm talks to result in an extension of current tariff levels, which stand at a US tariff of 30 per cent on Chinese goods and a Chinese tariff of 10 per cent on US products, far lower than the triple-digit percentage rates raised in April. The truce in the tariffs war to allow time for talks allowed exporters and other traders to ramp up shipments in hopes of beating any higher tariffs that might follow. The meeting headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping mostly reiterated Beijing's priorities for the year, including a need to "unleash domestic demand", which has lagged, leading to a surge of exports by industries unable to find growth at home. It also stressed the need to promote jobs and prevent a "large-scale relapse into poverty". The economy "has demonstrated strong vitality and resilience", the Xinhua report said, but it acknowledged many risks and challenges. That includes reining in brutal competition that has led to damaging price wars among auto makers and some other manufacturers and managing excess capacity in some industries, it said. China's economy expanded at a 5.2 per cent annual pace in April-June, slowing slightly from the previous quarter. Even with the hiatus in higher tariffs, companies are feeling a pinch. Industrial profits in China fell 1.8 per cent in the first half of the year and 4.3 per cent in June, according to data released this week. China's top leaders have pledged to help companies slammed by higher US tariffs but are holding back on major moves after trade talks with the US kept businesses and planners in limbo. At their summer economic planning meeting, the powerful politburo of the ruling Communist Party pledged to stabilise foreign trade and investment. "We must assist foreign trade enterprises that have been severely impacted, strengthen financing support, and promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade," the official Xinhua News Agency said in reporting the closed-door meeting on Wednesday. It mentioned export tax rebates and free trade pilot zones but gave no other specifics. The inconclusive outcome of two days of trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden, leaves open the question of higher tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States. Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng said the two sides had agreed to work on extending a deadline for higher tariffs. The US side said the extension was discussed, but not decided. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters after the talks that President Donald Trump would decide whether to extend the August 12 deadline for an agreement or to let tariffs that have been paused for 90 days return to a higher level. "We haven't given the sign-off," Bessent said, though he emphasised that the talks had been "very constructive". China remains one of the biggest challenges for the Trump administration after it has struck deals over elevated tariff rates with other key trading partners, including Britain, Japan and the European Union. Many analysts had expected the Stockholm talks to result in an extension of current tariff levels, which stand at a US tariff of 30 per cent on Chinese goods and a Chinese tariff of 10 per cent on US products, far lower than the triple-digit percentage rates raised in April. The truce in the tariffs war to allow time for talks allowed exporters and other traders to ramp up shipments in hopes of beating any higher tariffs that might follow. The meeting headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping mostly reiterated Beijing's priorities for the year, including a need to "unleash domestic demand", which has lagged, leading to a surge of exports by industries unable to find growth at home. It also stressed the need to promote jobs and prevent a "large-scale relapse into poverty". The economy "has demonstrated strong vitality and resilience", the Xinhua report said, but it acknowledged many risks and challenges. That includes reining in brutal competition that has led to damaging price wars among auto makers and some other manufacturers and managing excess capacity in some industries, it said. China's economy expanded at a 5.2 per cent annual pace in April-June, slowing slightly from the previous quarter. Even with the hiatus in higher tariffs, companies are feeling a pinch. Industrial profits in China fell 1.8 per cent in the first half of the year and 4.3 per cent in June, according to data released this week.
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Can pensioners really be 'wealthy'? One economist reckons they are
The attacks on Baby Boomers, labelling them as "wealthy" to the detriment of "families and young people" just because their home has increased in value, needs to stop. Brendan Coates, an economist with the Grattan Institute, was given a soap box on July 24 to air concerns "wealthy pensioners" should be penalised to benefit the rest of Australian society. Perhaps Brendan forgets people over the age of 65 are also valued members of society, and if they're eligible for the age pension (the current base payment being $27,333 a year for singles and $41,210 for couples, before tax is taken out) it's because they are just scraping by. Compulsory super only began in 1992 at 3 per cent, whereas Brendan enjoys 12 per cent as of July 1. The age pension is below minimum wage, and far below the wage of an economist (in excess of $100,000 according to "[Retirees] can be in Potts Point or Toorak with a $5m house and receive the same pension that a person in a $500,000 unit in Bendigo or Bathurst is receiving," he is quoted as saying in the Australian Financial Review. "People with substantial wealth are receiving the pension who arguably don't need it." Read more from The Senior: Mr Coates believes a retiree's family home (regardless if they bought it 40 years ago for next to nothing, then for the pandemic to jack up the land value) should be included in the pension assets test to better help "those who need it". But Brendan isn't a fan of retirees with superannuation either. A Grattan Institute report by Brendan Coates, released a day after his quotes around "wealthy pensioners", ironically called for more tax on superannuation funds. Not sure about you Brendan, but my grandparents on the Gold Coast have lived far longer than they expected and are now living day to day, as their meagre super dwindled to nothing. Pensioners and self-funded retirees are being slammed every which way as the "cash cows" of society, that should be pushed out of their homes - "and downsize" - to make way for a seemingly more important demographic: anyone under the age of 50. In 2025, around 58 per cent of Australians aged over 65 (around 2.4 million people) receive either the full or part age pension. But why would someone not have enough super to retire on comfortably? Compulsory super only came into play 30 years ago (around 10 years after Brendan Coates was born). "While Australians have reason to feel proud of the success of Australia's superannuation system ... the need for review, refinement and reform continues. An example is the retirement savings of Australian women," the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority states on their website. Older women are the fastest-growing group of homeless people in Australia. The 2021 Census reported a 6.6 per cent increase to women over 55 experiencing homelessness. Divorce and lack of super (due to raising children) are a big factor. Banks also won't give older people a loan for a home and rents have skyrocketed. The Superannuation Guarantee, with a mandatory three per cent contribution rate for employers came into effect in 1992 - nearly 20 years after reader of The Senior Suzanne G finished high school. "As a woman of 67 soon 68 ... back in 1974 when I finished school there was no superannuation," the retired pensioner told The Senior. She said she's worked all her life, owns her own home, and had a "meagre private super" which was cashed in some years ago to complete home renovations. The 1980s was the birth of superannuation for Aussies, but in the beginning, it was generally limited to public servants and white collar employees of large corporations. It was only in 2003 that provisions came in to allow the splitting of superannuation between divorcing or separating spouses, while 2007 saw investment losses for Australian superannuation funds of more than $200 billion thanks to the global financial crisis (GFC). The other flipside to all this: is if an older person does want to keep working they are either financially penalised (if they're on the age pension) or they're discriminated against by employers (according to the research by the Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Resources Institute). Who's with me and standing up for the rights of our wise elders? Retirees are humans too, with basic needs like anyone else. It's time the generations before them showed some respect. Share your comments below if you agree ... or disagree ... The attacks on Baby Boomers, labelling them as "wealthy" to the detriment of "families and young people" just because their home has increased in value, needs to stop. Brendan Coates, an economist with the Grattan Institute, was given a soap box on July 24 to air concerns "wealthy pensioners" should be penalised to benefit the rest of Australian society. Perhaps Brendan forgets people over the age of 65 are also valued members of society, and if they're eligible for the age pension (the current base payment being $27,333 a year for singles and $41,210 for couples, before tax is taken out) it's because they are just scraping by. Compulsory super only began in 1992 at 3 per cent, whereas Brendan enjoys 12 per cent as of July 1. The age pension is below minimum wage, and far below the wage of an economist (in excess of $100,000 according to "[Retirees] can be in Potts Point or Toorak with a $5m house and receive the same pension that a person in a $500,000 unit in Bendigo or Bathurst is receiving," he is quoted as saying in the Australian Financial Review. "People with substantial wealth are receiving the pension who arguably don't need it." Read more from The Senior: Mr Coates believes a retiree's family home (regardless if they bought it 40 years ago for next to nothing, then for the pandemic to jack up the land value) should be included in the pension assets test to better help "those who need it". But Brendan isn't a fan of retirees with superannuation either. A Grattan Institute report by Brendan Coates, released a day after his quotes around "wealthy pensioners", ironically called for more tax on superannuation funds. Not sure about you Brendan, but my grandparents on the Gold Coast have lived far longer than they expected and are now living day to day, as their meagre super dwindled to nothing. Pensioners and self-funded retirees are being slammed every which way as the "cash cows" of society, that should be pushed out of their homes - "and downsize" - to make way for a seemingly more important demographic: anyone under the age of 50. In 2025, around 58 per cent of Australians aged over 65 (around 2.4 million people) receive either the full or part age pension. But why would someone not have enough super to retire on comfortably? Compulsory super only came into play 30 years ago (around 10 years after Brendan Coates was born). "While Australians have reason to feel proud of the success of Australia's superannuation system ... the need for review, refinement and reform continues. An example is the retirement savings of Australian women," the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority states on their website. Older women are the fastest-growing group of homeless people in Australia. The 2021 Census reported a 6.6 per cent increase to women over 55 experiencing homelessness. Divorce and lack of super (due to raising children) are a big factor. Banks also won't give older people a loan for a home and rents have skyrocketed. The Superannuation Guarantee, with a mandatory three per cent contribution rate for employers came into effect in 1992 - nearly 20 years after reader of The Senior Suzanne G finished high school. "As a woman of 67 soon 68 ... back in 1974 when I finished school there was no superannuation," the retired pensioner told The Senior. She said she's worked all her life, owns her own home, and had a "meagre private super" which was cashed in some years ago to complete home renovations. The 1980s was the birth of superannuation for Aussies, but in the beginning, it was generally limited to public servants and white collar employees of large corporations. It was only in 2003 that provisions came in to allow the splitting of superannuation between divorcing or separating spouses, while 2007 saw investment losses for Australian superannuation funds of more than $200 billion thanks to the global financial crisis (GFC). The other flipside to all this: is if an older person does want to keep working they are either financially penalised (if they're on the age pension) or they're discriminated against by employers (according to the research by the Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Resources Institute). Who's with me and standing up for the rights of our wise elders? Retirees are humans too, with basic needs like anyone else. It's time the generations before them showed some respect. Share your comments below if you agree ... or disagree ... The attacks on Baby Boomers, labelling them as "wealthy" to the detriment of "families and young people" just because their home has increased in value, needs to stop. Brendan Coates, an economist with the Grattan Institute, was given a soap box on July 24 to air concerns "wealthy pensioners" should be penalised to benefit the rest of Australian society. Perhaps Brendan forgets people over the age of 65 are also valued members of society, and if they're eligible for the age pension (the current base payment being $27,333 a year for singles and $41,210 for couples, before tax is taken out) it's because they are just scraping by. Compulsory super only began in 1992 at 3 per cent, whereas Brendan enjoys 12 per cent as of July 1. The age pension is below minimum wage, and far below the wage of an economist (in excess of $100,000 according to "[Retirees] can be in Potts Point or Toorak with a $5m house and receive the same pension that a person in a $500,000 unit in Bendigo or Bathurst is receiving," he is quoted as saying in the Australian Financial Review. "People with substantial wealth are receiving the pension who arguably don't need it." Read more from The Senior: Mr Coates believes a retiree's family home (regardless if they bought it 40 years ago for next to nothing, then for the pandemic to jack up the land value) should be included in the pension assets test to better help "those who need it". But Brendan isn't a fan of retirees with superannuation either. A Grattan Institute report by Brendan Coates, released a day after his quotes around "wealthy pensioners", ironically called for more tax on superannuation funds. Not sure about you Brendan, but my grandparents on the Gold Coast have lived far longer than they expected and are now living day to day, as their meagre super dwindled to nothing. Pensioners and self-funded retirees are being slammed every which way as the "cash cows" of society, that should be pushed out of their homes - "and downsize" - to make way for a seemingly more important demographic: anyone under the age of 50. In 2025, around 58 per cent of Australians aged over 65 (around 2.4 million people) receive either the full or part age pension. But why would someone not have enough super to retire on comfortably? Compulsory super only came into play 30 years ago (around 10 years after Brendan Coates was born). "While Australians have reason to feel proud of the success of Australia's superannuation system ... the need for review, refinement and reform continues. An example is the retirement savings of Australian women," the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority states on their website. Older women are the fastest-growing group of homeless people in Australia. The 2021 Census reported a 6.6 per cent increase to women over 55 experiencing homelessness. Divorce and lack of super (due to raising children) are a big factor. Banks also won't give older people a loan for a home and rents have skyrocketed. The Superannuation Guarantee, with a mandatory three per cent contribution rate for employers came into effect in 1992 - nearly 20 years after reader of The Senior Suzanne G finished high school. "As a woman of 67 soon 68 ... back in 1974 when I finished school there was no superannuation," the retired pensioner told The Senior. She said she's worked all her life, owns her own home, and had a "meagre private super" which was cashed in some years ago to complete home renovations. The 1980s was the birth of superannuation for Aussies, but in the beginning, it was generally limited to public servants and white collar employees of large corporations. It was only in 2003 that provisions came in to allow the splitting of superannuation between divorcing or separating spouses, while 2007 saw investment losses for Australian superannuation funds of more than $200 billion thanks to the global financial crisis (GFC). The other flipside to all this: is if an older person does want to keep working they are either financially penalised (if they're on the age pension) or they're discriminated against by employers (according to the research by the Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Resources Institute). Who's with me and standing up for the rights of our wise elders? Retirees are humans too, with basic needs like anyone else. It's time the generations before them showed some respect. Share your comments below if you agree ... or disagree ... The attacks on Baby Boomers, labelling them as "wealthy" to the detriment of "families and young people" just because their home has increased in value, needs to stop. Brendan Coates, an economist with the Grattan Institute, was given a soap box on July 24 to air concerns "wealthy pensioners" should be penalised to benefit the rest of Australian society. Perhaps Brendan forgets people over the age of 65 are also valued members of society, and if they're eligible for the age pension (the current base payment being $27,333 a year for singles and $41,210 for couples, before tax is taken out) it's because they are just scraping by. Compulsory super only began in 1992 at 3 per cent, whereas Brendan enjoys 12 per cent as of July 1. The age pension is below minimum wage, and far below the wage of an economist (in excess of $100,000 according to "[Retirees] can be in Potts Point or Toorak with a $5m house and receive the same pension that a person in a $500,000 unit in Bendigo or Bathurst is receiving," he is quoted as saying in the Australian Financial Review. "People with substantial wealth are receiving the pension who arguably don't need it." Read more from The Senior: Mr Coates believes a retiree's family home (regardless if they bought it 40 years ago for next to nothing, then for the pandemic to jack up the land value) should be included in the pension assets test to better help "those who need it". But Brendan isn't a fan of retirees with superannuation either. A Grattan Institute report by Brendan Coates, released a day after his quotes around "wealthy pensioners", ironically called for more tax on superannuation funds. Not sure about you Brendan, but my grandparents on the Gold Coast have lived far longer than they expected and are now living day to day, as their meagre super dwindled to nothing. Pensioners and self-funded retirees are being slammed every which way as the "cash cows" of society, that should be pushed out of their homes - "and downsize" - to make way for a seemingly more important demographic: anyone under the age of 50. In 2025, around 58 per cent of Australians aged over 65 (around 2.4 million people) receive either the full or part age pension. But why would someone not have enough super to retire on comfortably? Compulsory super only came into play 30 years ago (around 10 years after Brendan Coates was born). "While Australians have reason to feel proud of the success of Australia's superannuation system ... the need for review, refinement and reform continues. An example is the retirement savings of Australian women," the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority states on their website. Older women are the fastest-growing group of homeless people in Australia. The 2021 Census reported a 6.6 per cent increase to women over 55 experiencing homelessness. Divorce and lack of super (due to raising children) are a big factor. Banks also won't give older people a loan for a home and rents have skyrocketed. The Superannuation Guarantee, with a mandatory three per cent contribution rate for employers came into effect in 1992 - nearly 20 years after reader of The Senior Suzanne G finished high school. "As a woman of 67 soon 68 ... back in 1974 when I finished school there was no superannuation," the retired pensioner told The Senior. She said she's worked all her life, owns her own home, and had a "meagre private super" which was cashed in some years ago to complete home renovations. The 1980s was the birth of superannuation for Aussies, but in the beginning, it was generally limited to public servants and white collar employees of large corporations. It was only in 2003 that provisions came in to allow the splitting of superannuation between divorcing or separating spouses, while 2007 saw investment losses for Australian superannuation funds of more than $200 billion thanks to the global financial crisis (GFC). The other flipside to all this: is if an older person does want to keep working they are either financially penalised (if they're on the age pension) or they're discriminated against by employers (according to the research by the Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Resources Institute). Who's with me and standing up for the rights of our wise elders? Retirees are humans too, with basic needs like anyone else. It's time the generations before them showed some respect. Share your comments below if you agree ... or disagree ...
