Media Release

Facilitating easier access to superannuation an important step for patients with terminal illness: ASFA

Published 7 May, 2015

Published 7 May, 2015

7 May 2015

Facilitating easier access to superannuation an important step for patients with terminal illness: ASFA

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) congratulates the government for its announcement that patients with terminal illness will be able to more easily access their superannuation.

Under the current arrangements, patients are required to obtain medical certification from their doctors stating they had less than 12 months to live. From 1 July 2015, the life expectancy period will be increased to two years.

“This is important as it will allow people to access their super to help fund treatment options that are not subsidised, and are often too costly for people to afford without accessing these savings.

“People in the final year of their lives also often suffer from rapidly decreasing health, which makes it difficult for them to travel or participate in activities that allow them to enjoy the precious time they have left with their family and friends. Increasing the life expectancy period to two years will provide more people with the financial means to make the most of this time,” says ASFA CEO Ms Pauline Vamos.

“Terminal illness has a dramatic impact on the person who is suffering, as well as their loved ones and friends. Allowing them to access their super so they have more money to improve their quality of life is no doubt something they deserve,” Ms Vamos concluded.

For further information, please contact:

Lisa Chikarovski: Manager – Consumer Strategy, Media and Public Affairs, 0451 949 300.

About ASFA

ASFA is the peak policy, research and advocacy body for Australia’s superannuation industry. It is a not-for-profit, sector-neutral, and non-party political national organisation, which aims to advance effective retirement outcomes for members of funds through research, advocacy and the development of policy and industry best practice.

Acknowledgement of Country

We want to respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of these lands, seas, and waters throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders both past and present. We acknowledge the history, the resilience and the continual contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of their Country.

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Daniel Mulino MP

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services

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Born in Brindisi, Italy, Daniel was a young child when he moved with his family to Australia. He grew up in Canberra and completed his first degrees – arts and law – at the ANU. He then completed a Master of Economics (University of Sydney) and a PhD in economics from Yale.

He lectured at Monash University, was an economic adviser in the Gillard government and was a Victorian MP from 2014 to 2018. As Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer of Victoria, Daniel helped deliver major infrastructure projects and developed innovative financing structures for community projects.

In 2018 he was preselected for the new federal seat of Fraser and became its first MP at the 2019 election, re-elected in 2022 and 2025. From 2022 to 2025, Daniel was chair of the House of Representatives’ Standing Economics Committee in which he chaired inquiries; economic dynamism, competition and business formation and insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.

In 2025, he became the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services.

In August 2022, Daniel published ‘Safety Net: The Future of Welfare in Australia’, which aims to explore the ways in which an insurance approach can improve the effectiveness of government service delivery.