Where an individual has two employment arrangements that are going concurrently, and one of arrangements actually ceases, what APRA says in its guidance SPG 280 is that it still considers this to be a valid condition of release of retirement at that point in time, Mr Dunn explained.

“So [for example] an individual may be working two jobs, they may have had a role, a job maybe at the electoral commission (AEC) in addition to their primary role, and they then cease that employment with the electoral commission,” he said.

“Then that in itself, if they are over the age of 60, would mean that the benefits that they had as preserved and restricted non-preserved would be satisfying that condition of release of retirement and would become unrestricted non-preserved benefits at that time.”

Importantly, however, that in itself, he said, will not change the character of any preserved benefits that would accrue after the condition of release has occurred.

“So, the fact that they're continuing on with one or more other employments means that the contributions being made both by the employer and by the member, on the basis that they are eligible to make further contributions, will mean that they will be preserved and won't be accessible until there is a further cashing condition that is met,” he said.

“You will end up with a line in the sand so when that initial cessation of employment has occurred, that benefit can move to unrestricted, but any future contributions and benefits that will accrue will continue to accrue to the preserved benefits of that member until such a time that we actually satisfy a further cashing condition.”