In a communication sent to parliamentarians on Wednesday, AIOFP executive director Peter Johnston said the association would begin campaigning in the marginal seat of Casey, in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs, next week.
The seat is held by current speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith, who has been the local member since 2001, on a 4.5 per cent margin.
Mr Johnston said the association would engage with the 186 advisers living in the electorate representing between 18,000 and 36,000 clients, or around 10 per cent of Casey’s population, calling on them to vote against Mr Smith if he continued to support the government’s advice reforms.
“This is the first step in the process of demonstrating to all politicians that our industry’s 20,000 advisers and circa 4 million clients have a strong commercial and political relationship that should not be underestimated,” he said.
“We are not against the professionalisation of our industry and support the concept of FASEA. It is the unconscionable treatment of experienced advisers that has led to broken families, suicides and destroyed practice values influenced by vested interests that has happened on this government’s watch – this is what we are angry about.
“We have been appallingly treated over the past eight years and will not hesitate to protect our position.”
The news follows the AIOFP’s announcement of its campaign, which would cover the marginal seats of Chisholm, Bass, Longman, Wentworth, Braddon, Swan, Boothby and Casey, in February.
With the Coalition holding some seats by as little as an 0.5 per cent margin, and down to a two person majority in the House of Representatives following the defection of NSW MP Craig Kelly to the cross-bench, the association hopes to galvanise support for a reduction in red tape as a key political issue in the upcoming federal election.
“We want these politicians going back to ‘head office’ assisting our cause through fear of losing their seat,” Mr Johnston said in February.
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the only problem here is that when labor get in they will be far worse for the industry. I may as well go and work for an industry fund now!
yes unfortunately Labor continue to remain a far worse alternative for the industry…the industry suffers by not having any firm friends in high places
What a great idea advisers having a voice through their clients everyone needs to get on board
Yep the plight of Life Insurance advisers is a cause every Australian can get behind. Aussie battlers. COVID has really scuttled AIOFPs main purpose.. organising old white man overseas booze ups.
Well such action was successful in the BASS (Tas) by-election in 1975 when LUA members door knocked against Labors proposed nationalization of financial services. With a well directed and funded campaign, with door-knocking, Mr Smith could be in trouble
Old risky are you still writing risk?
Don’t stop with advisers who live in the seat. I live in a safe seat, but have heaps of clients who live in swinging electorates. I’m not a AOIFP member, but I will be joining their fight. Enough is enough. Labor probably won’t be any better, but they couldn’t do any more damage than what Hume, O’Dwyer and Frydenberg have done.
Have you heard Stephen Jones speak? Whilst the current bunch aren’t much chop, the alternative is far worse…
What could Labor possibly do that is worse than the Coalition? Maybe ban life insurance commissions. That’s it. I’m willing to take that risk. I’m not frightened of that potential outcome anymore. What the Coalition has done to us is far worse. They need to be taught a lesson. If we don’t punish them at the election, they will continue to ignore us, they will continue with these destructive policies and they will continue to allow ASIC and these other leaches/regulators drown us in useless red-tape and compliance BS
Well done AIOFP.
This is a prime example of this organising not understanding things, if Labor gets inthe whole situation becomes a whole lot worse
Understand your point – but how else does one get the Liberals to stop the BS red tape. Seriously, if the Liberals want us to be their friends, I for one expect the same. Plenty of Advisers had their lives affected by the liberals – what is one Liberal losing his seat?
Yes. Poor old Pete has no idea.
Spot the liberal shill. Bingo. This corrupt government is only interested in making its mates wealthy. Look at the handouts to Qantas yet makes farmers were made to take loans during a drought.
Where’s the bushfire funds spent?
Liberal electorate.
Where’s the sports rorts money spent?
Liberal electorates.
Water money?
Great job Angus.
Homes before super? Member for Goldstein.
Unlicensed advice? Same guy.
A lot of you guys who are planners also have hobby farms and have interests in ag business.
This govt won’t lift a finger unless you are a bit business or have an influential local member who can give free kicks to their mates.
This applies in NSW as well. Look at Wagga member and GB and property development and cash for visas.
Let’s not delude ourselves the earlier we kick this government out and engage with a new administration who are open to good faith dealings the better. I’ve personally spoken with govt members as a constituent about these issues but they just ignore and deny there’s a problem.