X
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Get the latest news! Subscribe to the SMSF Adviser bulletin
  • News
    • Money
    • Education
    • Strategy
  • Webcasts
  • Features
  • Events
  • Podcasts
  • Promoted Content
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Money
    • Education
    • Strategy
  • Webcasts
  • Features
  • Events
  • Podcasts
  • Promoted Content
No Results
View All Results
Home News

Industry funds hit back as government takes aim

Industry Super Australia (ISA) has hit back following a swing from the government, saying that banks are pressuring politicians to shake up protective superannuation laws.

by Jotham Lian
March 22, 2017
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ISA released a ratings report that shows industry super funds outperformed bank-owned retail funds, by more than 2 per cent in some cases.

According to the February SuperRatings numbers, industry super funds in the SR 50Balanced Option have consistently outperformed bank-owned retail super funds through the decade – by 2.02 per cent over three years, 2.16 per cent over five years, 2.05 per cent over 7 years and 2.21 per cent over 10 years.

X

The results were released on the back of a new ad by ISA that likened the big four banks to foxes raiding a hen house.

Minister for Revenue and Financial Services Kelly O’Dwyer was quick to deny suggestions that changes to the default super model were in the pipeline.

“This campaign is jumping at shadows,” Ms O’Dwyer said. “The basis of the campaign is bizarre.”

“But the main problem is, this is not how members’ superannuation savings should be being spent.

“It is beholden on industry super funds, which bankroll ISA using members’ retirement savings, to disclose to their members how much they have contributed to this latest round of self-indulgent scare campaigning and lobbying.”

ISA’s chief executive David Whiteley remains adamant that banks were lobbying to dismantle the current industry super fund model.

“The banks are quietly pressuring federal politicians to remove the laws that protect Australians who save through workplace default funds. If they succeed, the super savings of millions of Australians could be at risk,” Mr Whiteley said.

“The trustworthy and high-performing industry super fund model has consistently outperformed bank-owned funds for two decades.

“There is no reason to dismantle the system that works best for members. If anything, more needs to be done to look into the chronic underperformance of bank-owned super.”

Related Posts

Aaron Dunn, CEO, Smarter SMSF

Looking at future direction of trustee education directives

by Keeli Cambourne
December 23, 2025

Aaron Dunn, CEO of Smarter SMSF, said he anticipates that now the ATO has a tool available and there is...

Look at all ingoings into fund to ensure contributions are effective

by Keeli Cambourne
December 23, 2025

Matthew Richardson, SMSF manager for Accurium, said on a recent webinar that there are a number of elements which may...

What was the biggest challenge the SMSF sector faced in 2025?

by Keeli Cambourne
December 23, 2025

Peter Burgess, CEO, SMSF Association Uncertainty surrounding Division 296 cast a shadow over the sector for much of 2025. The...

Comments 2

  1. Jimmy says:
    9 years ago

    And the Union Super Funds aren’t pressuring Labor to keep them in their protected position? Pot. Kettle. Black. As soon as MySuper came in, all MySuper accounts should have been eligible to be selected as a default fund. The fact that it wasnt is due to pressure applied by Unions and Union Super Funds. Now that FWA has broken the shackles of Labor domination in the penalty rates decision, perhaps they should be eliminating any restrictions on default super and Choice of Fund. It is unfathomable that people are still forced to contribute to funds selected for them by a union given the legislation has been in since 2005. There is obviously no conflict in the CFMEU and other unions requiring that all members must contribute to CBUS, not when all the Member Directors are union party hacks with no experience or qualifications in the main, except for the odd Cert IV in Unionism (I kid u not!!)

    Reply
    • Anonymous says:
      9 years ago

      Well said Jimmy, pity the ‘like’ button doesn’t work on this site

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
SMSF Adviser is the authoritative source of news, opinions and market intelligence for Australia’s SMSF sector. The SMSF sector now represents more than one million members and approximately one third of Australia's superannuation savings. Over the past five years the number of SMSF members has increased by close to 30 per cent, highlighting the opportunity for engaged, informed and driven professionals to build successful SMSF advice business.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Strategy
  • Money
  • Podcasts
  • Promoted Content
  • Feature Articles
  • Education
  • Video

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
  • News
  • Money
  • Education
  • Strategy
  • Webcasts
  • Features
  • Events
  • Podcasts
  • Promoted Content
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited