Financial System Inquiry (FSI)

The Government’s decision not to ban SMSF borrowing, as recommended by the Financial System Inquiry, has been welcomed by professional bodies.

The Federal Government has said that SMSF Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) won’t be banned, as part of the response to the Financial System Inquiry (FSI). The Government has not accepted the recommendation of the Financial System Inquiry to ban most forms of super fund borrowings, including SMSF LRBAs. “While the Government notes that there are …

Government won’t ban SMSF LRBAs, responds to FSI Read More »

Of all the superannuation related Financial System Inquiry recommendations the one for a legislative objective for the superannuation system appears to be the least controversial, with widespread support from a range of organisations.

Instead of being banned SMSF borrowing arrangements should be reformed says SISFA, the Self-managed Independent Superannuation Funds Association. The final report of the Financial System Inquiry (FSI) recommended a prospective ban on most forms of direct leverage by superannuation funds, including SMSF Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs)

The Financial Service Council (FSC) says that, though SMSFs should be banned from direct borrowings, large super funds should retain the right to borrow through unit trust structures, in a submission in response to the final report of the Financial System Inquiry (FSI).

Consulting firm Mercer has called for default superannuation funds to be removed from industrial awards, to “free up competition.” “Mercer believes the superannuation default fund requirements in Modern Awards should be removed,” said the submission in response to the final report of the Financial System Inquiry.

The Australian Financial Markets Association (AFMA) has recommended the Government amend the SIS act so that SMSFs can only borrow to purchase “listed and widely held assets or units,” not real estate. AFMA, which represents banks, stockbrokers and other participants in the financial markets, says this would preserve the intention of the 2007 changes, which …

SMSF LRBAs should be restricted to securities, says AFMA Read More »

NAB says extending choice of super fund to all employees, as recommended by the final report of the Financial System Inquiry, is “crucial to increase competition” in the superannuation system. NAB is also, broadly, supportive of the other superannuation-related recommendations of the Financial System Inquiry (FSI), in a submission on the final report.