The super system must deliver for middle Australia and help reduce reliance on the Age Pension, the FSC believes.
The Budget's proposal to lower the concessional contribution caps is counterproductive to the objective of the superannuation system, the Financial Services Council (FSC) believes.
Addressing Super Review's Future of Super conference this morning, FSC chief executive, Sally Loane said the government's proposed changes were one of the most significant since the inception of super.
"It is the end of the super era as we know it. I duly note that the 11 new measures were very large. They were a surprise and would affect a small but significant number of Australians," she said.
"The real test is if they will deliver a real increase to support retirement and lower the number of people on the Age Pension."
"Lowering the concessional caps is counterproductive to the objective of the system and will crimp the ability of older people to put savings in super even though they would be in a better position to do so in their 50s than their 30s."
Loane said this, along with later life issues such as divorce and a mortgage, would add to the inability for people to put as much income as possible into their super.
"It's middle Australia that super must deliver for and the system must have a greater capacity to reduce the reliance on Age Pension," Loane said.
Following the roundtable, the Treasurer said the government plans to review the superannuation performance test, stressing that the review does not signal its abolition.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has placed superannuation front and centre in its 2025-26 corporate plan, signalling a period of intensified scrutiny over fund expenditure, governance and member outcomes.
Australian Retirement Trust (ART) has become a substantial shareholder in Tabcorp, taking a stake of just over 5 per cent in the gaming and wagering company.
AustralianSuper CEO Paul Schroder has said the fund will stay globally diversified but could tip more money into Australia if governments speed up decisions and provide clearer, long-term settings – warning any mandated local investment quota would be “a disaster”.