The Government has directed the Productivity Commission (PC) to conduct an inquiry into default superannuation funds in modern awards - something Labor promised as far back as 2010.
The PC has been instructed to lay down the rules for the assessment of superannuation funds eligible for nomination as default funds in modern awards by Fair Work Australia.
The move has been welcomed by the financial services industry. Financial Services Council chief executive John Brogden said the current process for selecting superannuation funds in awards was "a closed shop, anti-competitive and failed to protect consumers".
"Opening the default market to competition and creating a level playing field between all MySuper funds is crucial to ensuring fees continue to be driven down," Brogden said.
Changing the rules would allow retail funds to compete for awards, which would break the "industry fund monopoly" and allow competition to "flourish", Brogden said.
The announcement was also welcomed by AMP managing director Craig Meller and BT Financial Group head of superannuation Melanie Evans.
"There is also a need to introduce greater transparency around the ongoing performance of funds listed inside modern awards," said Evans.
Paul Costello has been appointed as a part-time associate commissioner to assist in the inquiry, according to Assistant Treasurer Mark Arbib.
The inquiry will begin in early February could last as long as eight months.
The Future Fund’s CIO Ben Samild has announced his resignation, with his deputy to assume the role of interim CIO.
The fund has unveiled reforms to streamline death benefit payments, cut processing times, and reduce complexity.
A ratings firm has placed more prominence on governance in its fund ratings, highlighting that it’s not just about how much money a fund makes today, but whether the people running it are trustworthy, disciplined, and able to deliver for members in the future.
AMP has reached an agreement in principle to settle a landmark class action over fees charged to members of its superannuation funds, with $120 million earmarked for affected members.