Current status of government superannuation policies

The status of government superannuation policies in development and implementation.

Currently before Parliament

• Super fund merger tax relief to be made permanent
  • Announced in the 2019/20 Budget, the Bill is currently before the Parliament. Regarding this measure, Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology Jane Hume has said: “The Government is committed to passing this legislation and this change has bipartisan support.”
• Transferring all money from ERFs to the ATO
  • In mid-December the Government announced the intention to effectively shut down Eligible Rollover Funds, with a plan to require them to transfer all super holdings to the ATO. The legislation is currently before Parliament.
• Super Guarantee amnesty for employers
  • Bill currently before the Parliament: Treasury Laws Amendment (Recovering Unpaid Superannuation) Bill 2019. This is the second attempt by the Government to introduce an amnesty for employers who haven’t paid Super Guarantee.
• Expand super choice to cover more workers
  • Legislation lapsed at last Federal Election, has been introduced again in the Treasury Laws Amendment (Your Superannuation, Your Choice) Bill 2019.

Newly announced

Unknown

• Increase SMSF member cap to 6
  • Was included in the Liberal Party’s list of election policies. Prior to that, was included in a Bill put to the Parliament before the election, but removed by amendment. Legislation would need to be reintroduced to Parliament.
• Three year audits for SMSFs
  • Outcomes of consultation were “currently being considered”, as of June 2019. Public consultation on draft legislation by Treasury closed in August 2018.
• Allow victims of domestic violence to access superannuation
  • Announced late in 2018, victims of domestic and family violence would be able to access some of their superannuation. Legislation has yet to be introduced to Parliament. Recent Freedom of Information documents show the policy has “no announced start date.”
• Review of early release of superannuation rules
  • Consultation on the review closed in February 2019. According to Freedom of Information documents, “stakeholders are anticipating a Government response”.
• At least one-third independent directors for large super funds
  • Legislation lapsed at last Federal Election, and has yet to be reintroduced.
• Setting objective for superannuation system in legislation
  • Bill to put objectives for superannuation in legislation was introduced to Parliament in November 2016, but hadn’t passed by last Federal Election, and so lapsed. Bill would need to be reintroduced to Parliament.

From the 2019/20 Budget

• Streamlining ECPI
  • Announced in the 2019/20 Budget, this change is meant to apply from 1 July 2020, This would include allowing super funds in both accumulation and retirement phases to be able to choose the method of calculating ECPI, and removing a redundant requirement for super funds fully in retirement phase and using the proportionate ECPI method to obtain an actuarial certificate. Draft legislation has yet to be released.
• Extending non-concessional contribution bring-forward to ages 65 & 66
  • Also as part of the 2019/20 Budget, the Government proposed that people aged 65 or 66 be able to use the non-concessional contribution bring-forward rule. This has yet to be legislated.
• Raising Work Test age
  • It is proposed that, from 1 July 2020, people aged 65 or 66 will be able to make voluntary super contributions without having to meet the ‘work test’. Announced as part of the 2019/20 Budget, this has yet to be legislated.
• Raising age limit for spouse contributions
  • The Government has proposed increasing the age limit for spouse contributions would be increased from 69 to 74. This has yet to be legislated.
• Superannuation Consumer Advocate
  • The 2019/20 Budget included $100,000 for an “expression of interest process” around a Superannuation Consumer Advocate. Treasury started the process in early December.

Delayed

• SuperStream for rollovers for SMSFs delayed
  • Including rollovers for SMSFs in the SuperStream system has been delayed to 31 March 2021.
• Comprehensive Income Products for Retirement (CIPR)
  • A recommendation of the Coalition’s Financial System Inquiry, under which super fund trustees would pre-select an income product for the retirement of members. The start date was delayed until July 2022.
• Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
  • The Government passed changes to the Portfolio Holding Disclosure (PHD) legislation earlier in 2019. But the implementation is dependent on regulations, which have yet to be made. ASIC recently again delayed the start date for PHD until 31 December 2020 due to the lack of the regulations. PHD was originally meant to start on 1 July 2015

Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry

• 3.1 – No other role or office for trustees of super funds. The Government said it would “address the risks” of dual regulated entities with such a prohibition. Legislation to be introduced by 30 June 2020.
• 3.2 – Ban on deducting advice fees from MySuper accounts. Legislation to be introduced by 30 June 2020.
• 3.3 – Limits on deducting advice fees from Choice product accounts. Government agreed, “consistent” with requirements around ongoing fee arrangements. Legislation to be introduced by 30 June 2020.
• 3.4 – Prohibition on ‘hawking’ of superannuation products. Legislation to be introduced by 30 June 2020.
• 3.5 – A person should have only one default account. The Government agreed with the recommendation, but there is no details on the method or any timeframe for it to be implemented. The Government says the recommendation will be “considered in the context” of related recommendations from the Productivity Commission – which the Government has had since late 2018 and to which it has yet to respond.
• 3.8 – Adjustment to roles of APRA and ASIC in respect of superannuation. Legislation to be introduced by 30 June 2020.
• 3.9 – Extend Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR) to large super fund trustees (RSEs). Legislation to be introduced by 31 December 2020.

Status of current superannuation Bills

• Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Bill 2020
  • Before the House of Representatives | Second reading moved 12/02/2020
  • Permanent tax relief for super fund mergers
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Reuniting More Superannuation) Bill 2020
  • Before the House of Representatives | Third reading agreed to 11/02/2020
  • Transfer superannuation held by Eligible Rollover Funds (ERFs) to the ATO
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Your Superannuation, Your Choice) Bill 2019
  • Before the House of Representatives | Second reading debate 12/02/2020
  • Expansion of super choice to new enterprise agreements and workplace determinations
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Recovering Unpaid Superannuation) Bill 2019
  • Before the Senate | Second reading debate 11/02/2020
  • Super Guarantee amnesty for employers

Passed superannuation legislation

Superannuation-related legislation that has passed the Parliament.

• Treasury Laws Amendment (2019 Tax Integrity and Other Measures No. 1) Bill 2019
  • Assent – 28/10/2019
  • Salary Sacrifice integrity, other tax changes
• Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Superannuation Measures No. 1) Act 2019
  • Assent – 02/10/2019
  • Super Guarantee opt-out for high income earners, Non-arm’s length expenses, LRBA in Total Super Balance
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Members’ Interests First) Act 2019
  • Assent – 02/10/2019
  • Opt-in changes to insurance in super for new young members and balances under $6,000