ISA calls for compulsory super protections

On Friday, Mr Hockey suggested the government may consider allowing young people to use their superannuation savings for a house deposit, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"We need to have these conversations," he said.

ISA chief executive David Whiteley slammed this idea, urging the government to keep super inaccessible until retirement.

“Such proposals are completely at odds with the objective of encouraging Australians to build private savings to take pressure off the aged pension,” he said.

“The government should rule out such proposals immediately.”

He suggested the move could inflate house prices and reduce retirement savings over the long term.

“Super funds could also face increased liquidity demands, undermining optimal asset allocation and potentially reducing investment returns to members,” he said.

Mr Whiteley acknowledged current policy settings were failing to deliver a comfortable retirement for some Australians but said the government had other options available.

“Most obviously the government could more efficiently distribute tax concessions, ensuring that all taxpayers are incentivised to save for their retirement, and protect the super safety net that ensures members who do not choose their own fund are defaulted into a well-performing fund,” he said.