The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has for the second time in a month commenced civil penalty proceedings against a superannuation fund for false or misleading representations, this time against Statewide Superannuation.
In an announcement ASIC said the false or misleading representations were over insurance cover held by members of Statewide Superannuation Trust.
ASIC alleged that from May 2017 to June 2010 Statewide:
The corporate regulator said the fund breached its obligations as an Australian financial services license holder to act efficiently, honestly and fairly and to comply with financial services laws.
The fund, ASIC said, failed to report these breaches to ASIC within 10 business days.
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.