The Federal Government’s legislative changes to superannuation fund governance are not specifically aimed at unions and industry funds, according to the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, Kelly O’Dwyer.
Interviewed on national television this week, O’Dwyer denied the governance changes had anything to do with the Government’s agenda with respect to trade unions, or recent actions with respect to the Australian Worker’s Union (AWU).
The minister said the Government’s legislation was not simply one measure.
“We’ve got a superannuation system that we force people into because we want them to save for their retirement,” she said. Twenty-five years ago, it was worth about $136 billion. Today it’s over $2.3 trillion. That’s the retirement savings of millions and millions of Australians.”
“All we are seeking to do is to give the regulator powers to protect that money. To give them the powers to intervene before harm occurs. To make sure that that money is protected,” O’Dwyer said.
“And the laws apply to everyone, whether they’re in retail funds, industry funds or corporate funds. It applies equally across the board so that members can be confident that the decisions that are being made around their money is in their best interests.”
Vanguard Super has reported strong returns across most of its investment options, attributed to a “low-cost, index-based approach”.
The fund has achieved double-digit returns amid market volatility, reinforcing the value of long-term investment strategies for its members.
Australian super funds notched a third consecutive year of strong returns, with the median balanced option delivering an estimated 10.1 per cent over the 2024-25 financial year, but an economist has warned that the rally may be harder to sustain as key risks gather pace.
AustralianSuper has reported a 9.52 per cent return for its Balanced super option for the 2024–25 financial year, as markets delivered another year of strong performance despite the complex investing environment.