This may be a pretty basic observation from the recent Financial Services Council conference, though unfortunately it’s also apt.
Playing it safe appeared to be the order of the day for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law Minister Chris Bowen, opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey, parliamentary secretary Bill Shorten and the federal Liberal member for Higgins, Kelly O’Dwyer.
While Bowen did reassure conference delegates about his government’s commitment to boost the industry as a financial services hub and stay firm on the officially stamped moves to increase super contributions from 9 per cent to 12 per cent and ban commissions, he did little else.
Bowen gave no clarity as to the government’s decisions on opt-in or fiduciary duty, and merely used his time at the podium to point out the opposition’s shortfalls.
In light of Bowen’s warnings about the coalition, Hockey’s speech was greatly anticipated – though even he fell short.
Like Bowen, Hockey performed his best sidestep around questions on the whereabouts of the coalition’s superannuation and retirement policy. It still appears to be lost in the post.
There were even murmurs at the conference dinner that Hockey delivered the wrong speech – perhaps the travel between three cities in one day was just too much for the weary politician?
The following morning, conference delegates were treated to a Punch and Judy-style performance by Shorten and O’Dwyer.
In a panel session chaired by former Investment and Financial Services Association chief Richard Gilbert, the pollies offered little in the way of policy certainty and ended up as merely comic relief for an audience full of hangovers, with the pair acting like two kids squabbling between each other in a tit-for-tat in the back of mum’s 4WD.
It was a disappointing display by all four political representatives. If it was not obvious before the conference, it certainly became quickly apparent that Australia’s financial services industry is not a priority. In short, the financial services industry is not a vote swinger.
Yet, what struck me was that the politicians have missed one critical point. While such issues around the future of financial advice will not be in the minds of all those eligible to vote on polling day, it will be on the minds of industry participants, who after a day’s work actually do materialise into your average voter.
By the time you read this the poll will be done and dusted. Australia would have chosen its preferred prime minister. However, for those in the industry, that choice is not simply ticking a box and hoping for the best. After polling day the hard work that you have all put in during the past 12 months will begin again.
