Prominent Liberal moderate Jane Hume is pitching a new plan to make the Coalition relevant to Australian women, proposing to make it easier for more spouses with big superannuation balances to transfer retirement income to their partners.

Women retire with super balances 20 per cent lower than men, fuelling disadvantage among older women, many of whom took time out of the workforce when caring for children or elderly parents.

In her first major policy move since being dumped from the shadow cabinet, Hume, a former minister for superannuation, will use her freedom as a backbencher to put a spotlight on a pro-women policy as the opposition searches for fresh ideas after their election drubbing.

Current rules – including allowing tax offsets only when a spouse’s income is below $40,000 –

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