Skip to navigationSkip to contentSkip to footerHelp using this website - Accessibility statement
  • Advertisement

    Rest Super

    April

    AustralianSuper and HESTA are the outliers this time in calling for widespread change.

    Big super splits on performance test reforms

    Labor announced it was reviewing the test after several funds said the current rules stopped them investing in the “nation building” initiatives the government wanted them to bankroll.

    • Hannah Wootton

    March

    Deputy leader of the Liberal Party Sussan Ley.

    Coalition demands means-testing on parental leave super payments

    The opposition says workers with big super retirement savings balances should not get superannuation top-ups paid for by taxpayers.

    • Hannah Wootton and Tom McIlroy
    Debby Blakey says companies need to be more creative when hiring if they want to reduce their gender pay gaps.

    ‘Absolutely nonsense’: Super funds slam investment banker pay gaps

    Investment banks claim it will take a long time to fix mammoth gender pay gaps, blaming systemic factors, but super funds show it can be done quickly, CEOs say.

    • Hannah Wootton

    February

    Super funds’ operational costs are not going down even as they gain scale.

    Super fees are not coming down like they were supposed to

    The running costs of Australia’s biggest industry super funds have not gone down despite their promises that greater scale would drive down expenses.

    • Hannah Wootton

    January

    Top earners: Mark Delaney, Deanne Stewart, David Elia and John Pearce.

    Revealed: Big super’s executive gender pay gap

    Despite pressuring companies to ramp up female representation in their senior ranks, there is just one woman among the top 10 paid executives at the eight most powerful super funds.

    • Hannah Wootton and Sarah Mitchell
    Advertisement
    AustralianSuper’s Mark Delaney is hunting for direct lending opportunities.

    Super funds step up private lending in challenge to banks

    Fund CIOs say increased regulatory scrutiny on bank capital means more borrowers are tapping them for project finance and leveraged buyouts, as well as direct lending.

    • Updated
    • Hannah Wootton
    Alexandra Campbell will retain Cbus’ heavy unlisted exposure.

    Cbus splits from industry super rivals over performance tests

    The Wayne Swan-chaired industry fund urged Treasurer Jim Chalmers to stick to the current regime even as its rivals heavily lobby Canberra for change.

    • Hannah Wootton

    Super fund CIOs go defensive amid fears rates stay high

    Investment chiefs who collectively manage more than $1.5 trillion in retirement savings are ramping up their exposure to unlisted assets, private credit and cash.

    • Hannah Wootton

    December 2023

    Super funds paid many millions of dollars to unions last financial year.

    Big super spends lots of your money on promotion. Here’s where it goes

    New transparency laws reveal for the first time where industry super funds put money for ads and sponsorships. The Tigers and unions are big winners.

    • Hannah Wootton
    Cath Bowtell and Wayne Swan

    Big super hits out at performance tests

    Fund chiefs descended on Parliament House for roundtable discussions as part of Labor’s push to have private money fund “nation building” investments.

    • Hannah Wootton and Ronald Mizen

    November 2023

    Super funds are hunting out opportunities to invest in the energy transition, but say options are limited onshore.

    AusSuper to use ‘disproportionate’ footprint to block Origin deal

    Several super funds have backed the giant’s stance that there are insufficient opportunities to deploy their capital in the energy transition locally.

    • Hannah Wootton
    Complaints from retirees about the super sector are increasing, say regulators.

    Super funds on spending spree to improve customer service

    But there are concerns the cost of improving service could drive up fees, even as the government and regulators warn of a crackdown on poor standards across the $3.5 trillion sector.

    • Hannah Wootton

    October 2023

    See which super funds rate the worst for retirement

    Regulators have criticised the super industry for largely ignoring a new obligation to help members prepare for retirement.

    • Hannah Wootton and Joanna Mather
    Super fund CEOs Paul Schroder (AustralianSuper), Debby Blakey (HESTA), Deanne Stewart (Aware Super), Vicki Doyle (Rest Super), Bern Reilly (Australian Retirement Trust) and Peter Chun (UniSuper) are actively engaging with company boards, which they say will improve the value of their investments.

    Super fund CEOs put ASX on notice over workplace conditions

    Industry super funds are using their $3.5 trillion asset pool to influence companies on decent work conditions, secure contracts and banning sexual harassment.

    • Updated
    • Hannah Wootton
    Aged care

    Big super rejects government call to solve aged care funding crisis

    While Labor flags nation-building aged care, super funds resist using Australians’ savings as a “fix-all” source of needed revenue.

    • Updated
    • Hannah Wootton
    Advertisement

    September 2023

    Big industry super unites in political lobbying power play

    A new “big eight” of superannuation funds will dominate the $3.5 trillion retirement savings system with a lobby group dominated by Labor heavyweights.

    • Joanna Mather and Hannah Wootton

    July 2023

    Shares in AT&T have fallen to their lowest level since 1993.

    Ring the Bell: Macquarie, investors eye US toxic lead investigation

    A handful of Australia’s biggest infrastructure and superannuation funds could be exposed to the same issues affecting US telecom giant AT&A.

    • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
    Link Group chief executive Vivek Bhatia says a line in the sand will hopefully occur by mid-2024 on the group’s British strife.

    Link Group shares tumble as start-up rival snatches big client

    The troubled ASX 200 fintech stock has lost a major superannuation contract to fast-growing administration player Grow Inc, causing its shares to drop.

    • Jessica Sier

    June 2023

    Super funds are freezing out PwC.

    Superannuation funds’ boycott of PwC grows

    Five industry super funds representing more than $750 billion in Australians’ retirement savings have now frozen new contracts with PwC, and there are more on the cards.

    • Hannah Wootton

    May 2023

    Andrea Hall is the first woman to join Core Lithium’s board.

    Core Lithium appoints first female director as big super steps up pressure

    AustralianSuper, HESTA and Aware Super have all voted against the election of male directors to boards failing on gender equality and say they are seeing results.

    • Hannah Wootton