Pauline Hanson’s call for an end to universal superannuation has brought a sharp response from unions.

The ACTU has strongly criticised One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg after they both called for an end to compulsory superannuation – a move the union peak body says would put millions of workers at risk of poverty in retirement.

Hanson described the compulsory retirement system as “broken” while Bragg described it as “one of the biggest public policy failures since federation”.

“Superannuation is a great Australian success story. Because of superannuation ordinary working people are able to retire and maintain their standard of living into retirement,” said ACTU Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell.

“Working people love their super and want to see a successful super system that provides a great retirement income. Rather than support this effort, Andrew Bragg and Pauline Hanson are looking to collaborate and tear it all down.

“Super is not their ideological plaything, it’s hard-earned money for retirement. Unions won’t let One Nation or the Liberals take it away.”

One Nation and the Liberal Party have a track record of working together to undermine compulsory super.

One Nation voted with the Coalition to freeze a legislated increase to the Superannuation Guarantee under the previous Coalition Government., It also supported workers raiding their super to get by during COVID.