The Government needs to remove superannuation policy from the regular budgetary cycle to provide stability and help restore confidence in the system, an association believes.
The SMSF Association used its 2017 Budget submission to urge the Government to resist further changes to the system.
The association’s head of policy, Jordan George said stability for super should extend beyond tax settings and include broader issues such as ensuring that it was not used to fund first home deposits.
“Such proposals should be easily evaluated and assessed against strong and fit-for-purpose objectives for superannuation. On the other hand, sensible changes that improve the system and make it more efficient by reducing red-tape should meet the system’s objectives and be proceeded with,” he said.
“…The association believes it is essential that the Government commits to a period of stability for superannuation free of significant changes, especially concerning tax settings.
“This would allow superannuation funds and their members a period to ensure that they have the correct strategies in place to comply with the new rules and maximise their opportunities to build retirement savings.”
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.