Australian superannuation fund trustees have condemned the decision by US President, Donald Trump, to with draw from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI), Louise Davidson described the decision as “retrograde”.
“It is disheartening to see a decision like this, by a wealthy industrialised nation, which flies in the face of scientific knowledge and investor concerns,” she said. “The decision by the Trump administration to withdraw from the Paris Agreement is out of step with community expectations that governments will act in the face of these very real dangers.”
She that it was against this background that ACSI welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to continuing to support the Paris Agreement.
“ACSI members are already investing to support a transition to a low carbon economy. The Paris Agreement is key to ensuring investors have the confidence to continue to support this transition”, Davidson said.
Large superannuation accounts may need to find funds outside their accounts or take the extreme step of selling non-liquid assets under the proposed $3 million super tax legislation, according to new analysis from ANU.
Economists have been left scrambling to recalibrate after the Reserve Bank wrong-footed markets on Tuesday, holding the cash rate steady despite widespread expectations of a cut.
A new Roy Morgan report has found retail super funds had the largest increase in customer satisfaction in the last year, but its record-high rating still lags other super categories.
In a sharp rebuke to market expectations, the Reserve Bank held the cash rate steady at 3.85 per cent on Tuesday, defying near-unanimous forecasts of a cut and signalling a more cautious approach to further easing.