AIRC action creates super fund monopoly

IFSA/master-trusts/default-funds/superannuation-funds/chief-executive/

12 January 2009
| By Lucinda Beaman |

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission’s (AIRC’s) action in relation to default superannuation funds has created a “virtual monopoly” for a “favoured few funds” according to Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA) chief executive Richard Gilbert.

Gilbert has called for a review of the AIRC’s decision, which restricts the number of default super funds for employees under certain awards.

“Australia appears to be about to head down the path of locking out competition and returning to some kind of old-fashioned ‘closed shop’ regime for a favoured few funds,” Gilbert said.

IFSA has sought an urgent meeting with Minister for Workplace Relations Julia Gillard in order to explain the ramifications of the AIRC decision, “a decision that we believe must be reviewed by the Government”, Gilbert said.

“This is an extraordinary move on the part of the AIRC and could, in effect, deny workers access to some of the most cost-effective super funds in the Australian marketplace.”

IFSA is pressing for more transparency in the nomination of default funds. The association prefers that default super funds not be nominated in awards, with the alternative being non-compulsion for employers to choose the default fund specified in the award.

Gilbert said larger corporate and wholesale master trusts offer a range of products with low fees, and that “it is odd that employers should be denied access to such funds”.

IFSA pointed to recent research conducted on behalf of the association by Rice Warner Actuaries, which found that large corporate master trusts have seen the greatest reduction in fees over the past six years, as a result of competition created by employers negotiating on behalf of their employees. IFSA said more than half of the super accounts in Australia are either held in an industry fund or pay an average fee of around 1 per cent or less per annum.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest news and developments in wealth management industry

MARKET INSIGHTS

So we are now underwriting criminal scams?...

2 months 3 weeks ago

Glad to see the back of you Steve. You made financial more expensive, not more affordable as you claim, and presided ...

2 months 3 weeks ago

Completely agree Peter. The definition of 'significant change is circumstances relevant to the scope of the advice' is s...

4 months 4 weeks ago

ASIC has suspended the Australian Financial Services Licence of a Melbourne-based financial advice firm....

1 week 5 days ago

The corporate regulator has issued infringement notices to three AFSLs whose financial advisers provided personal advice to a retail client while unregistered....

2 weeks 3 days ago

ASIC has released the results of its first adviser exam to be held in 2025, with 241 candidates attempting the test....

3 weeks 1 day ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND