The Federal Government is yet to indicate how it is going to manage an exit strategy from the bank deposit guarantee, leaving the financial services industry with a considerable unknown, according to the deputy chief executive officer of the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA), John O’Shaughnessy.
O’Shaughnessy told a Pensions and Investments Summit on the Gold Coast that he believed it was possible that the Government would opt to leave the guarantee in place in some form, but it was a question of what it would then look like.
His comments came in circumstances where a number of mortgage funds remained frozen, but O’Shaughnessy said he believed the Government’s decision to implement the guarantee had been correct given the circumstances at the time and notwithstanding the market distortions it had then created.
He said there was a danger the financial services industry would be confronted by significant regulatory change flowing from the global financial crisis and from that change would flow higher compliance costs.
However, O’Shaughnessy warned that the Government needed to look at its own specific set of circumstances and its own regulatory system.
“We need to look at fixing what is broken and not follow what is happening overseas,” he said. “Nor should we lose sight of the value of competition.”
The US remains a standout destination for innovation and commercialisation, according to MLC Asset Management chief investment officer Dan Farmer.
Hostplus’ MySuper Balanced option delivered significantly stronger returns in 2024–25, bouncing back from the previous year when its cautious stance on listed markets came at a cost to members.
Introducing reforms for strengthening simpler and faster claims handling and better servicing for First Nations members are critical priorities, according to the Super Members Council.
The Commonwealth Bank has warned that uncapped superannuation concessions may be “unsustainable” and has called for the introduction of a superannuation cap.