Eighty-one-year-old Alonzo Llewellyn began working at the age of six, selling his mother’s home-made flowers on the streets of Cleveland, Ohio.
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The now-Wolumla resident said Australian superannuation legislation discriminates against older workers, and his repeated attempts to contact politicians at all levels of government over the last decade have gone unheard.
We must work for our own economic survival, and we need superannuation more than younger people.
- Eighty-one-year-old Alonzo Llewellyn
When he turned 75, Mr Llewellyn said the human resources department of his employer advised him employees over the age of 75 who make three per cent salary sacrifice contributions to their super would not have the amount matched.
According to the Australian Taxation Office, self-managed super funds “generally can't accept” non-mandated contributions, such as salary sacrifice contributions, for members aged 75 or over.
“I’m irate the superannuation guarantee legislation discriminates against workers that are 70 years of age or older,” Mr Llewellyn said.
“Let’s face it, by the time you enter the workforce and continuing up until you die, you have to pay taxes, and are thereby contributing to the economy of the country.
“So why are you, as a senior worker, not allowed to continue to get the same benefits as younger workers get?”
Mr Llewellyn worked at a school library from the age of eight until 13, and his first full-time job was with the US Airforce at the age of just 15, after telling recruiters he was 18.
“As an Afro-American growing up in the United States, and now as an Australian living in Australia for the past 44 years, I have had to endure discrimination all my life,” Mr Llewellyn said.
“Initially due to my race, and now due to my age.”
The former newsreader and radio personality, who was forced into retirement at 79 due to a back injury two years ago, said people still in the workforce over the age of 70 are working out of “necessity”.
“We must work for our own economic survival, and we need superannuation more than younger people,” he said.
“We want to retire and enjoy life, but instead we have to continue to work because of the current economic conditions. Why should you be discriminated against for your age?”
He said the lack of response from elected politicians has left him feeling frustrated.
“Nobody would respond, they don’t even give you the courtesy of letting you know they’ve received your letter,” he said.
“Our political officials are the most disappointing I’ve ever seen.
“Not letting you know they’ve received communication frightens the hell out of me.”
