The Financial Services Council (FSC) has labelled claims by Industry Super Australia (ISA) that banks could offer employers incentives for default fund selection are wrong, claiming any enticement would be a breach of the law.
The Superannuation Industry Supervision (SIS) Act prohibits any enticements in the form of discounts, rebates and write-offs, according to FSC CEO John Brogden, which makes the ISA’s fears unwarranted.
He said the legislation applies to both retail and industry super funds.
Brogden said the statements could disguise a fear of competition from industry funds.
“Superannuation funds that offer competitive products and provide good service to their members have nothing to fear from competition,” he said.
“The best outcome for consumers is for funds to be forced to compete for default superannuation contributions,” he added.
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.