The Government’s Protecting Your Super legislation appears to have come at a significant cost to some superannuation funds, with AustralianSuper estimating it at over $3.6 million.
AustralianSuper controversially introduced a levy to cover those costs and, answering questions on notice from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, the fund said those extra costs had totalled $3,674,932 on a cost-recovery basis alone.
What is more, the largest portion of those additional costs came in the form of administration.
Breaking down the costs, it said the non-insurance cost had been $944.496, with the insurance costs being $1,043,210 and the administration fee being $1,687,326.
AustralianSuper chief executive, Ian Silk had in November told the committee that the levy was designed as a cost-recovery exercise and would not provide any additional revenue to the trustee.
The two funds have announced the signing of a non-binding MOU to explore a potential merger.
The board must shift its focus from managing inflation to stimulating the economy with the trimmed mean inflation figure edging closer to the 2.5 per cent target, economists have said.
ASIC chair Joe Longo says superannuation trustees must do more to protect members from misconduct and high-risk schemes.
Super fund mergers are rising, but poor planning during successor fund transfers has left members and employers exposed to serious risks.
That's a drop in the bucket. AusSuper would be making $3.6m profit every fortnight, given their current FUM.
That's sure to drive Timmy Wilson bonkers!
Hey Steve - Aus Super is an industry fund - all " profit " goes back to members !