Published: 06/10/2016
Category: Member Benefits
Published: 06/10/2016
Category: Member Benefits

This month we bring you a timely update on our Member Benefits smartphone app, info on proposed changes to Super and how it might affect your retirement plans, there’s a great offer on new tyres from Tyresales.com.au plus there are two great DVDs to win!

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Member Benefits Update October 2016

This month we bring you a timely update on our Member Benefits smartphone app, info on proposed changes to Super and how it might affect your retirement plans, there’s a great offer on new tyres from Tyresales.com.au plus there are two great DVDs to win!


Photo montage: Unionists at the CUB Free Grand Final BBQ last weekend in Brisbane, photos courtesy of Sapphire Parsons


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Have the baby boomers lost their boom?

The latest Household Financial Comfort Report (HFCR) from industry super fund-owned bank, ME shows financial wellbeing among baby boomers has taken a hit in the last six months. We take a look at what’s driving the boomers’ concerns.

Falls in wealth and net income dent confidence

Boomers’ drop in financial confidence reflects a trifecta of factors.

First, historically low interest rates are eroding returns on term deposits – an investment typically favoured as a source of income by empty nesters and retirees.

In addition, Australian shares, which often comprise a large chunk of superannuation investments, have delivered lacklustre capital growth in the past year, impacting the final nest eggs of pre-retirees and retirees alike.

On top of this, changes to super and other policies set out in the 2016/17 Federal Budget adversely impacted the expected comfort of the boomers.

Read on


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How proposed changes to super will impact your retirement planning. Four things you need to know

With the election over, some of the proposed changes to super are now being debated in parliament. A number of the key proposals appear to have bi partisan political support and are likely to be passed.

Some of these changes will directly impact the retirement planning and saving for many Australians.

  1. The controversial retrospective $500,000 lifetime limit for after-tax contributions to super has been dropped and replaced by a proposal to reduce the annual after tax contribution limit from $180,000 to $100,000. Additionally, if your superannuation balance reaches $1.6Million then no further after tax contributions can be made.
  2. A new $1.6Million superannuation transfer balance cap is being proposed to restrict the total amount of super that can be transferred from an accumulation account to a pension account. Where an individual has more that this balance in super, the excess will need to be retained in their accumulation account or withdrawn from the super environment. The Government has confirmed commensurate treatment for defined benefit schemes will also apply.

Read on for full article


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New smartphone app

Australian Unions are pleased to announce that our Member Benefits have a brand new app. Access all of our great Member Benefits on the move!

Our current offers include:

  • A great range of movie vouchers at heavily discounted prices
  • A range of major retail gift cards: 
  • Attractions including zoos and aquariums
  • Offers from our partners ME , Crackawines, The Motor Report, Tyresales and Hertz

This is a free program available to affiliated union members.

Make sure you register now for access to app and secure web site:

australianunions.org.au/register


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Buy 3 tyres and get 1 free at Tyresales.com.au

For a limited time only, buy 3 tyres and get 1 more FREE on selected tyre brands at Tyresales!

The tyres available for this offer are marked with a red ‘Buy 3 get 1 Free’ bubble.

In addition, union members will receive an additional $50 discount * on any other purchase of tyres by using the redemption code ‘ACTU‘ upon checkout.

Save money by shopping for your tyres online at Tyresales.com.au. With access to over 1,500 fitment centres across Australia, you not only get the best deal, you also get the best local service!

The heavily discounted prices also include free fitting and balancing, free shipping to metro areas, free tyre roadside assistance, free tubeless valves and free tyre disposal.

Save now by visiting Tyresales.com.au

*Additional $50 discount not available in conjunction with the Buy 3 get 1 Free promotion or any other promotion.


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Photo: Megan Schulze, Together member and Stuart Dale from ME in Brisbane

Meet our NRL footy tipping winner

NRL footy tipping competition winner, Megan Schulze, a Together member and CFMEU employee from Brisbane, who tipped a very impressive 142 with a margin of 252, received $1,000 into her new Everyday Transaction Account from ME last month.

Whilst she excels at footy tipping, Megan doesn’t really follow the NRL and doesn’t support any one team.

When asked about her method of tipping so many winners, Megan was tight-lipped about her prowess.  “It’s a secret” she quipped.

Megan also attended a CUB free Grand Final BBQ last weekend and had a lovely time barracking for The Sharks, whom she tipped to win.

The winner of the AFL tipping comp was Carmel Cox, an IEU member from Melbourne. Carmel won by the slimmest of margins with a fantastic score of 151 with a margin of 555 at the end of the AFL home and away season.  Carmel received $1,000 into her Everyday Transaction Account from ME and just in time as she headed off overseas the same week she found out she had won.

A big thank you to all the union member tipsters and also to ME for providing the prize money.

Don’t forget we’re back in 2017!


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Boycott CUB

A few months ago, fifty-five CUB workers were sacked and offered their jobs back for just 35% of their pay.

Take the pledge to boycott all CUB products until these workers are reinstated.

You can also find the full list of CUB brews to avoid here.


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Win a DVD from Madman!

Enter the draw to win one of three DVD copies of ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ or ‘Citizenfour‘ that we are giving away to six lucky union members this month!

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Ricky (Julian Dennison) is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his grumpy foster uncle (Sam Neill) in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive in this hilarious and heart-felt adventure.

To win a copy of ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ email [email protected] with your name, address, union name and membership number before close of business Friday 28th October 2016.

Citizenfour

In June 2013, filmmaker Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald met with Edward Snowden confidentially in Hong Kong, where he handed over classified documents providing evidence of mass indiscriminate and illegal invasions of privacy by the National Security Agency (NSA). As the story breaks, they are forced to manage the raging media storm around them, and find their personal security and that of their loved ones under threat.

Citizenfour not only shows you the dangers of governmental surveillance – it makes you feel them. After seeing the film, you will never think the same way about your phone, email, credit card, web browser, or profile, ever again.

To win a copy of ‘Citizenfour’ email [email protected] with your name, address, union name and membership number before close of business Friday 28th October 2016.


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Our new Member Benefits Facebook page!

Don’t forget that Australian Unions Member Benefits have a brand new Facebook page for you to head to and ‘Like’ right now!

So get clicking and keep up to date with all the latest on Member Benefits.


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The team at Australian Unions
australianunions.org.au/member_benefits
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SHARE:
Australian Unions Member Benefits Update October 2016

SHARE:
Australian Unions Member Benefits Update October 2016