As a measure to alleviate financial hardship in the context of sudden recession brought on by COVID-19, Australia’s Liberal government recently announced an easing of restrictions on its superannuation rules. On March 22, the government announced plans to allow two one-off withdrawals of up to $10,000 (one this year and one again next) from individual superannuation (or “super”) accounts. The uptake was rapid — nearly one million people registered their interest to withdraw funds.

By April 23, close to half a million applications to withdraw on average $8,000 had been approved. Half of applications have come from younger workers and superannuation funds covering hospitality, media, education, and retail workers have had a higher percentage of their members apply, not only because they are among the hardest hit by the crisis, but likely also due to the prevalence of precarious and casual work in those industries.

By providing short-term funds for those in need, the rule change was promoted as an act of benevolence on the government’s part. But rather than the welfare state footing the bill for pandemic-related cash shortages, it displaces the cost onto workers, asking them to dip into their own funds — and at a time when stock-market losses have already lowered their value. In classic Liberal Party–style, it’s a maneuver that seeks to shift the burden of responsibility onto individuals and, in so doing, absolves the state and employers of their responsibility.