Pausing the superannuation guarantee (SG) charge at its current 9.5% and allowing a third tranche of the superannuation hardship early release scheme have emerged as two possibilities for inclusion in the Federal Budget.
The two possibilities were canvassed during a web debate between NSW Liberal Senator, Andrew Bragg, and Victoria Labor backbencher, Dr Daniel Mulino, with the question being asked in the context of the Assistant Minister for Superannuation and Financial Services, Senator Jane Hume, having referred to the popularity of the early release scheme.
Asked his opinion of the early release scheme during the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) debate, Bragg described it as having been “proportionate and popular” with it having been used in the majority of cases to pay down debt or mortgages.
However, when asked whether an extension of the scheme was likely to be included in next month’s Federal Budget, Bragg referenced his relatively lowly status as a backbencher.
However, he said he was open-minded on the question.
For his part, Mulino said he believed that the Government’s policy approach had been hasty and ill-directed and had resulted in people using their personal superannuation savings to fund something which should have been the responsibility of the Government.
“In doing so, the Government has taken away the benefit of a lifetime of compound interest – that is a short-sighted approach,” Mulino said.
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.