Financial services industry welcomes elevation to inner Cabinet


Key sections of the Australian financial services industry have welcomed the fact that both financial services and superannuation have been elevated to the inner Cabinet with the promotion of Bill Shorten in yesterday's Cabinet reshuffle.
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, yesterday announced that Shorten would not only be elevated to Cabinet with his appointment to the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio, but that he would be retaining responsibility for financial services and superannuation.
Shorten's retention of the financial services and superannuation roles is unusual because they traditionally sit as junior responsibilities under the Treasury portfolio.
Commenting on yesterday's development, Association of Financial Advisers chief executive Richard Klipin congratulated Shorten, and pointed out that the minister's promotion had taken financial services into the inner Cabinet.
"This is appropriate, given how important the issue is to the financial future of all Australians," he said.
Similarly, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia chief executive, Pauline Vamos, noted the elevation of superannuation to the inner Cabinet.
As well, she said the announcement provided necessary certainty and continuity for the industry amidst a significant period of reform.
Vamos said it also made an important connection between employment, workplace relations and superannuation.
Money Management Top Stories
Recommended for you
Net cash flow on AMP’s platforms saw a substantial jump in the last quarter to $740 million, while its new digital advice offering boosted flows to superannuation and investment.
Insignia Financial has provided an update on the status of its private equity bidders as an initial six-week due diligence period comes to an end.
A judge has detailed how individuals lent as much as $1.1 million each to former financial adviser Anthony Del Vecchio, only learning when they contacted his employer that nothing had ever been invested.
Having rejected the possibility of an IPO, Mason Stevens’ CEO details why the wealth platform went down the PE route and how it intends to accelerate its growth ambitions in financial advice.