Super facts and figures

It is estimated that around five million Australians will be eligible for choice of superannuation fund from July 1, 2005.

Around 400,000 employees are currently in employer corporate funds, with at least $20 million of their assets expected to move around under choice.

Employers will have to offer choice of fund to the following classes of employees: non-award employees; federal award employees; and employees working under an award, certified agreement or Australian workplace agreement (AWA) with no superannuation provision or instructions.

Special rules apply to defined benefit fund members — technical advice should be sought.

Generally, state award employees and public sector employees are excluded — industrial relations advice should be sought.

Employees covered by state awards are likely to have choice of fund from July 1, 2006.

Choice of fund only applies to mandated Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions — salary sacrifice and other voluntary contributions are not required to be included.

Employers have 28 days to provide employees with the standard choice form, from commencement.

The standard choice form is available from www.treasury.gov.au — search for Standard Choice Form.

A product disclosure statement (PDS) for the default fund must be given with the standard choice form.

Any complying super fund that accepts SG contributions can be chosen as the employee’s nominated fund, including a self-management superannuation fund (SMSF).

Source: Tribeca