The Stronger Super reforms need at least 15 amendments in order for the legislation not to disrupt the operation of the superannuation industry, the peak super body has said.
"On the [Stronger Super] tranches, the important message is that we estimated that there are about 15 amendments needed to really make the legislation work. [These] 15 are absolutely core," Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) chief executive Pauline Vamos said.
Vamos emphasised the start date of 1 October 2013 for the implementation of MySuper was unworkable for many industry participants.
"There are a lot of employers that will not get there in time, some funds will not get there in time. We need to make sure that the implementation start date of MySuper works," she said.
She also argued funds should be able to charge different fees for life-cycle investment options within MySuper.
"At the moment, there is no ability to charge different investment fees where the asset allocation is different," she said.
"This is a very core issue for a number of providers because they feel they will not be able to provide life-stage-type portfolios, which will mean they will not be able to deal in the best interest of their members."
Participants of the panel session had all reviewed the option to include a life-cycle product as part of the MySuper offering, but only one indicated they would adopt the strategy.
"We are looking at life cycle and believe that a life-stage option is the way to go," Suncorp Group executive general manager of customer distribution Vicki Doyle said.
"We are probably looking at five-year increments."
But REST chief executive Damian Hill said if the fund adopted a life-cycle option, it would be part of its choice options.
"At this stage we are unlikely to [have a life-cycle option] as part of the default," Hill said.
"That is not to say that we are not considering it as part of choice.
"Part of the reason is that REST has a very strong long-term performance and has a very young demographic. In a MySuper environment, we want to stick to our historical performance."
Mercer Australia and New Zealand managing director David Anderson said the company looked at incorporating a life-cycle element into its MySuper option.
"For default design purposes, we believe that whole-of-life glide paths, asset allocation glide paths, are the right thing," Anderson said.
"The best product in our [eyes] is a structure that takes into account the accumulation phase, the decumulation phase and longevity risk within an asset allocation glide path."
Other items on ASFA's list of 15 amendments include changes to the treatment of insurance within a MySuper product.
"In our wish list, insurance plays a big part," Vamos said.
"One is the single definition that has to be applied to all MySupers will actually be allocated to choice as well. We think that shouldn't be the case.
"The other issue is that at the moment in the legislation, funds will have to offer TPD (total and permanent disability) without death. We think that is a mistake, but we are lobbying heavily to get that changed as well."
If the issues are not resolved, the consequences are that insurance premiums will go up, leading to a higher cost for members.
"I think some of the changes in super, if they don't get changed in the legislation, they will have very significant impact on premiums in particular," Vamos said.
