MySuper cannot realistically be implemented by 1 July 2013, according to the Shadow Minister for Financial Services, Senator Mathias Cormann.
Speaking at the Money Management/Association of Financial Advisers breakfast function this morning, Cormann called on the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Bill Shorten, to revisit the implementation timetable for the MySuper legislation.
"The timetable has been too tight and the process of legislating has essentially continued to run out; we are just over six months away from when MySuper is supposed to come into effect," Cormann said.
"The Coalition has supported in principle the concept of legislating a low-cost default product, but we think there are many issues with it, especially legislating the uniform pricing."
When asked if he wished to make any further changes to MySuper if the Coalition wins at the next federal election, Cormann said he had not closed the door on the possibility of further amendments.
"MySuper looks way better than when we started, but we're conscious of transition issues and are open to discussion," Cormann said.
Also speaking at the Money Management/Association of Financial Advisers breakfast, Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia CEO Pauline Vamos agreed there were issues around uncertainty, but added MySuper would bring more benefits for those who wish to leave the investment decisions to the trustee.
Jim Chalmers has defended changes to the Future Fund’s mandate, referring to himself as a “big supporter” of the sovereign wealth fund, amid fierce opposition from the Coalition, which has pledged to reverse any changes if it wins next year’s election.
In a new review of the country’s largest fund, a research house says it’s well placed to deliver attractive returns despite challenges.
Chant West analysis suggests super could be well placed to deliver a double-digit result by the end of the calendar year.
Specific valuation decisions made by the $88 billion fund at the beginning of the pandemic were “not adequate for the deteriorating market conditions”, according to the prudential regulator.