Superannuation: Why has the PRG report been ignored?

The decision to release the Periodic Review Group's (PRG) report on retirement income policies in the lead up to Christmas last year has been more successful than anyone could have thought. The rationale behind this move was that people could mull it over during the Christmas break then discuss its findings in the New Year.

This was personified by a picture in some newspapers of Prime Minister Jenny Shipley kayaking near Nelson and being quoted as saying she would read the report during her holidays in readiness for tackling the issue in 1998.

Well 1998 is nearly over and the PRG hasn't been discussed to the degree the authors' hoped, in fact it has all but gone the way of the paper used to wrap last year's Christmas presents.