Superannuation will become a key election issue if the Govenrment uses the May Budget to deliver super tax changes which do not deliver equity, according to Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) chief executive, Tom Garcia.
Making his opening address to the Conference of Major Superannuation Funds (CMSF), Garcia warned the Government against seeking to pursue a "quick fix" approach to super changes in the Budget.
He said he would be very disappointed if a quick fix approach was pursued in circumstances where Australians did not need superannuation to be used as a means of fixing a Budget hole.
"The super tax changes need to pass the test of fairness or super will become a major election issue," Garcia said.
Elsewhere in his opening address, Garcia also pointed to the "myth" of people needing $1 million in super to enable a comfortable retirement.
He said this simply was not true and that super needed to viewed in the context of access to the Age Pension.
Super funds have built on early financial year momentum, as growth funds deliver strong results driven by equities and resilient bonds.
The super fund has announced that Mark Rider will step down from his position of chief investment officer (CIO) after deciding to “semi-retire” from full-time work.
Rest has joined forces with alternative asset manager Blue Owl Capital, co-investing in a real estate trust, with the aim of capitalising on systemic changes in debt financing.
The Future Fund’s CIO Ben Samild has announced his resignation, with his deputy to assume the role of interim CIO.