Superannuation and housing policy are two of the biggest financial battlegrounds in Australia today. That's why the Get Rich Slow Club has hosted a range of guests with a range of differing opinions on the subjects.

In this episode of the Get Rich Slow Club, Tash and Ana speak with Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg. He delivers a fiery critique of the super industry and outlines how he believes the government can help fix the housing crisis .

From unlocking super for first home buyers to tackling supply and holding regulators accountable, Bragg offers a provocative take on what he thinks needs to change. Do you agree with Senator Bragg's take, or are you unconvinced by his position? Let us know in the comments!

The super system isn’t working for young Australians

Bragg doesn’t mince words when it comes to Australia’s superannuation system . "My view is that super has been designed by the industry to benefit from it," he says.

He believes the people it was meant to serve – young Australians working hard, studying, and struggling to buy a home – are getting the raw end of the deal.

According to Bragg, house prices are now soaring to 13 or 14 times the average income in some cities. Bragg argues this makes it deeply unfair to lock away a chunk of every worker's income for decades. He believes it leaves home ownership increasingly out of reach.

For this reason, he proposes allowing people to access their super to buy a first home, suggesting: "The average 38-year-old has 90 grand in their super. Even in a place like Sydney, that's a very practical part of getting a deposit together."

From Bragg’s perspective, superannuation has evolved into a rigid and opaque system. Younger Australians are expected to contribute large amounts from their income to funds they have little visibility or control over. And all this, while being locked out of the property market . He believes the system needs to evolve to reflect contemporary housing challenges.

The union problem and the case for flexibility

Bragg is especially critical of the connection between super funds and unions. He cites the example of Cbus Super, which is owned by the CFMEU.

"If you are the super funds, you're the most privileged people in the whole country," he claims. "You get to take 12% of all the workers' money and do whatever you want with it."

He believes members should have more flexibility and transparency, particularly around political spending by funds. Bragg also argues that the governance of many super funds is tainted by vested interests, which use members' money to serve political and commercial agendas.

For everyday Australians, Bragg suggests keeping things simple: look for passive investment options, low fees, and no political activity.

"If you can look to a fund that’s not going to be making political contributions, that's a good start," he advises.

Will using super to buy a house raise prices?

A common criticism of the proposal to use super for home deposits is that it could inflate property prices. Bragg acknowledges the concern, but remains unconvinced by the evidence. He claims that many reports arguing against the policy are commissioned by super funds with a financial interest in keeping money locked in.

"It's like Dracula in the blood bank," he says, accusing super funds of fearing reforms that would shift financial power back to individuals. Bragg points to independent economists like Brendan Coates, Peter Tulip and Cameron Murray, who he says have concluded the effect on house prices would be marginal.

"In the context of an $11 trillion property market, people taking 50 grand of their own money out to buy a house isn't going to move the needle," he argues. "Even if you double the amount of first-time buyers in Australia, it would be immaterial."

The housing crisis isn’t just about money – it’s about supply

Accessing super is just one side of Bragg's broader housing agenda. He makes it clear that he believes boosting housing supply is paramount.

"We need to be building 250,000 houses a year," he says. Yet construction numbers have fallen short, averaging just 170,000 homes annually under the current government.

According to Bragg, the biggest issues include over-regulation, rising construction costs, and entrenched NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard). "Unless we build more houses, we will never solve the housing crisis," he warns.

His solution? A national supply fund that supports local developments by covering critical infrastructure costs.

"Draft up the necessary materials that are required to fund that last mile infrastructure so we can get the houses built quickly," he urges.

He also calls for freezing construction code changes to reduce costs and attracting more skilled tradespeople, especially builders, through immigration reform.

"We’ve got more yoga teachers than builders coming into the country," Bragg claims. "That’s the wrong mix."

Regulators, overreach, and broken systems

Beyond housing and super, Bragg levels sharp criticism at Australia's financial regulators. He argues that agencies like ASIC , APRA and the ATO wield immense power with little democratic oversight.

"We elect people to Parliament to make rules. If you don't like me, you can get rid of me – that's a great system. You can't get rid of ASIC or the ATO," he says. He believes this creates a "deep state" effect where unelected bureaucrats set policies that should be made by elected representatives.

Bragg also says overregulation has made financial advice unaffordable.

"If you're a young person, you can't afford to buy a house, and you can't afford to get financial advice," he laments. He claims that high compliance costs have pushed many good advisers out of the industry, leaving Australians with few options for professional financial guidance.

He references the Dixon Advisory scandal as a case of regulatory failure. "Australia is a haven for white collar crime," he says, claiming ASIC only acts on misconduct once it’s made public through the media.

A call for choice and democratic accountability

Bragg’s broader message is a call for transparency, flexibility, and public accountability. He wants Australians to be empowered to make informed choices about their super, their housing, and their financial futures. And he wants politicians to be held responsible, not shielded by bureaucrats.

He describes his political approach as rooted in conscience. Despite his party’s opposition, Bragg supported the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.

"You've got to live with yourself," he says. "I don't want to make people's lives harder. I want to make people's lives easier."

Crypto, disruption, and innovation

Bragg is a proponent of financial innovation, particularly in the crypto space. He believes Australia should regulate digital assets not just to protect consumers but also to boost economic opportunity.

"If we regulate crypto, we will get more investment into Australia," he says, noting that digital payments and remittances could become significantly cheaper through crypto technologies.

He also highlights international scam syndicates operating from countries like Myanmar and the Philippines.

"If you want to fix scams, Australia needs to use its foreign affairs heft to get countries... to close down the compounds," he explains. He sees scam prevention as both a consumer protection and a diplomatic issue.

Final thoughts: the little piece of earth

Bragg’s views ultimately reflect a belief in the Australian dream of home ownership.

"If we become a country where young people don't have a little piece of earth, which is their own, this is no longer Australia as we know it," he says.

He acknowledges that today’s dream might not be a quarter-acre block but a city apartment – and that’s fine. What matters, he argues, is that Australians have the chance to invest in something they own.

Bragg’s policy proposals span multiple fronts: opening up super for home deposits, fixing broken housing supply chains, reforming immigration to favour skilled trades, reigning in regulatory overreach, and embracing emerging technologies. Whether or not you agree with his approach, it’s clear that he’s pushing for bold changes in an increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible economic environment.

If this episode sparked something in you, give it a five-star rating, drop a review, or better yet, share it with a friend. And if you're just starting out, the first ten episodes will get the financial gears turning. Follow us at @getrichslowclub and catch our personal updates at @tashinvest or @anakresina.

Happy investing!