The Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) has called for the Coalition to give more detail on its own superannuation policy, especially if the party refuses to accept the proposal to raise the superannuation guarantee.
“It’s not good enough for the Coalition to simply quote selected comments from the Henry Tax Review, when Dr Henry himself warned that the Review should be considered in its entirety,” said AIST chief executive Fiona Reynolds.
Reynolds questioned how future generations of taxpayers would be able to fund the needs of Australia’s rapidly ageing population.
“If the Coalition has the solution to these demographic challenges, then let’s hear it,” she said.
AIST modelling shows that the vast majority of taxpayers would have less super and experience a drop in take-home pay under Henry Review recommendations compared to the Government’s super reform package, which includes a super rebate for low-income earners, Reynolds said.
Henry recommendations also include the need for complex data matching requirements on behalf the Australian Taxation Office, she added.
An increase in the SG would not overly harm employers and history has shown businesses were not unduly affected by past SG increases, which were far greater and less gradual, she said.
The first 0.25 per cent rise would not take effect until 2013 and would amount to $3 per week for the average wage earner, Reynolds said.
“It’s hard to argue that such a rise will be a huge impost on either wage costs or take-home pay, particularly when real wages are expected to have increased by more than 6 per cent by 2013-14,” she said.
The super fund announced that Gregory has been appointed to its executive leadership team, taking on the fresh role of chief advice officer.
The deputy governor has warned that, as super funds’ overseas assets grow and liquidity risks rise, they will need to expand their FX hedge books to manage currency exposure effectively.
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.