Who can blame ASFA for wishing it was still 2006?

Superannuation’s peak body caused a few smiles in the industry last month when its events department sent out an invitation to the September 3 Melbourne trustee breakfast, which is supposed to feature an update from the Super Complaints Tribunal.

What the trustees got, however, was a request to attend Don Stammer’s famous Budget wrap-up lunch, this particular one taking place on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at Sydney’s Westin Hotel (12.15 registration for a 12.45pm start, thanks).

Ahhh, who wouldn’t want to go back? 2006, the year that one Peter Costello showered us with $36.7 billion of tax cuts. When petrol was an absolute steal at less than $1.50 a litre, and standard variable interest rates weren’t bad either at a touch over 6 per cent. Not to mention the ASX 200 rising 19 per cent over that beautiful, magical 12 months.

So here’s a challenge for ASFA’s new chief executive. Pauline, we know you’ve got a mandate for change, so if you and your events department really can change the year back to 2006, we promise never to write cheeky things about you on our back page ever again.