The Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT) has made a strong call to be freed from the budgetary oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), arguing that it needs better control of its own resourcing.
The SCT has gone so far as to urge Government changes to its underlying legislation to ensure its separation from ASIC.
In a submission to the Government's inquiry into financial services external dispute resolution services, the SCT has added to a growing body of complaint about the involvement of ASIC in the funding and resourcing process.
Faced with concerns around the length of time it takes for the SCT to deal with complaints, the submission said that where operational challenges currently exist they relate "improved efficiency of the governance operations of the tribunal, the need for greater transparency in relation to the allocation of funding to the tribunal and increased funding".
"These governance issues can be dealt with by Government consideration of reviewing and improving the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993," it said.
"This would provide the mechanism for improved delegations to the tribunal itself in terms of management of its resourcing both financial and people and transparency of tribunal funding."
"This would enable the tribunal Chairperson to align resourcing and outcomes with business decisions," the submission said.
"Currently this does not occur (with ASIC responsible for tribunal resourcing) and as a result there is significant disconnect between the resource requirements of the tribunal and the provision of resources from ASIC."
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.