Hockey faces angry voters on Q&A

Treasurer Joe Hockey has faced angry voters on the ABC's Q&A program one week after the Abbott Government handed down its first budget.

During his appearance, Mr Hockey gave his strongest indication yet that a first-term Abbott government could change the age at which people can access their retirement savings.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised before the election not to tinker with the superannuation system, but his treasurer confirmed on Monday that it's on the table.

"It is on my mind, and it's on Tony Abbott's mind," Mr Hockey told the ABC's Q&A program.

Despite some early jeers from the audience, the Treasurer enjoyed a slightly less antagonistic reception than the one afforded to his Liberal colleague, Christopher Pyne, when he appeared on the show earlier this month.

The age at which people can access their nest eggs - known as the preservation age - depends on their date of birth.

For those born after June 30 1964, it's 60.

Mr Hockey said there needed to be a national conversation about the "big issue" of retirement savings, and the government would have more to say about it further down the track.

When pressed on the issue, the treasurer confirmed changes could be made sooner rather than later to allow people time to prepare.

"I suspect it will be in this term, because I think what we're trying to do is give people a long lead time," Mr Hockey said.

The government announced in last week's federal budget that eligibility for the age pension will be increased to 70 years by July 2035.

Source: AAP, ABC