The Coalition Government has called on the senate to pass its Protecting Your Super Package (PYSP) and latest Member Outcomes legislation as industry superannuation funds continue on their growth trajectory.
Assistant treasurer, Stuart Robert, said under the PYSP, the Government would cap fees at three per cent for low balance accounts ($6,000 and under), which it estimates would save around seven million Australians approximately $570 million in the first year alone.
“We're also banning exit fees, removing the disincentive to account consolidation,” he said. “This measure will save low-income earners, working mothers, students as well as causal and part-time employees from erosion of fees.”
The PYSP would also make insurance an opt-in choice for people under 25 years, people with low balance and members with inactive accounts, which the Government estimates would save Australians $3 billion in insurance premiums.
Robert said inactive accounts without a contribution for 13 months or longer would be returned to existing accounts, which would reunite around four million people with lost superannuation.
“The Government is increasing choice of funds for Australians and closing loopholes letting some employers reduce their Superannuation Guarantee contributions that people who salary sacrifice,” he said.
Super funds had a “tremendous month” in November, according to new data.
Australia faces a decade of deficits, with the sum of deficits over the next four years expected to overshoot forecasts by $21.8 billion.
APRA has raised an alarm about gaps in how superannuation trustees are managing the risks associated with unlisted assets, after releasing the findings of its latest review.
Compared to how funds were allocated to March this year, industry super funds have slightly decreased their allocation to infrastructure in the six months to September – dropping from 11 per cent to 10.6 per cent, according to the latest APRA data.