Dutton Aims to Tackle Housing Crisis With Early Retirees

Coalition Leader Peter Dutton has emphasised the importance of using Australia’s existing workforce to address the critical shortage of skilled labour needed to meet housing demands. “We can access a workforce that’s readily available here in Australia now, and that includes people who have retired early but want to come back into the workforce,” Dutton told ABC radio. He noted that these individuals are currently prevented from doing so by the overlap between the welfare and tax systems. Currently, if an early retiree starts earning enough income that their pension entitlements drop to zero, the Age Pension can be suspended. If the person’s income drops again, it can usually be reinstated within two years....