While much of the Federal Budget was leaked beforehand, the most surprising element was raising the pension age to 67. This measure was as startling as it was profound.

The Government announced last Tuesday that from 2017, the age at which people will qualify for a pension will progressively rise from the current age 65. Moreover, it may be accompanied by parallel laws preventing people from accessing their super tax-free before that age.

This decision formalises what the statistics have been telling us for a while: that, as a community, we are all living longer. Now the Government wants us to pay our way for longer.

Those currently in their mid-to-late 50s need not be concerned. But hapless Gen Xers will find themselves having to stay in the workforce to support higher pensions and a stretched health system coping with the burgeoning needs of ageing baby boomers. Not for them early retirement and endless trips around Australia. Perhaps we should call it the final revenge of the boomers.

Should we be concerned about this? Probably not. It is an inevitable policy change reflecting the fact that we are living longer, healthy lives, and having fewer children that grow into adult taxpayers.

However, it does have implications for community life and ministry in coming years, as men and women stay at the office well into their 60s. Of all the Budget measures, this one will result in major social change.