"Prior to the election it was certainly my view,and I've articulated that,that those were legislated ... increases and we had no plans to change any of those,"he said.
"COVID-19 has occurred. Peoples'jobs are at risk."
However,he said the first 0.5 per cent rise does not take place until July next year and he did not want to act with undue haste.
Concerns about the future of the increase to compulsory superannuation payments reached a new high this week after Assistant Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume said she was"ambivalent"about the incremental increase and warned it wouldcome at the expense of wage growth.
The potential for a change in the legislation has left the government at loggerheads with the industry superannuation sector,Labor and the unions over the future of the $3 trillion super system,withconcerns held even before the pandemic the government would backflip on the boost to retirement savings.
The frustrations have now boiled over into the Standing Committee on Economics. Labor shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh,who is deputy chairman of the committee,has slammed the chairman,Liberal MP Tim Wilson,for using his position to criticise the industry superannuation sector.