The Your Future, Your Super bill is giving workers mixed messages about occupational exclusions for insurance within super funds, according to the Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Stephen Jones.
Prior to the Bill passing last week, there were concerns that being stapled to a super fund while in one occupation, could leave employees at risk if they moved to a riskier occupation at a later date.
This included occupations such as healthcare, emergency services and construction workers who required life insurance within their super.
Jones said Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy, was giving workers inaccurate messaging about their potential life insurance premiums.
Jones said: “Funds set up for workers in low-risk jobs (for example, café workers) legitimately exclude high risk jobs from insurance cover to keep premiums down.
“Part of the reason high-risk jobs have their own super funds is so they can offer high-risk life insurance. Is the Minister suggesting all funds now need to include cover for high-risk jobs?”
He said several major super funds such as AMP, MLC, CFS and REST excluded high risk occupations from their super funds.
A member body representing some prominent wealth managers is concerned super funds’ dominance is sidelining small companies in capital markets.
Earlier this month, several Australian superannuation funds fell victim to credential stuffing attacks, which saw a small number of members lose more than $500,000.
Small- to medium-sized funds have become collateral damage in an "imperfect" model for super industry levies, a financial institution has said.
Big business has joined the chorus of opposition against the proposed Division 296 tax.