Yesterday
Big super’s obsession with data centres comes with an energy warning
AustralianSuper poured $2.2 billion into a US data centre company this week, but ESG experts warn the energy-hungry assets could compromise net zero targets.
- Hannah Wootton
This Month
- Sponsored
- Allianz
How much is enough? Guaranteeing an income in retirement
Living a comfortable lifestyle in retirement is a priority for all Australians.
Sponsored
by Allianz
Big super’s executive gender pay gap revealed
Analysis by The Australian Financial Review also shows who the highest-paid superannuation bosses were last year.
- Hannah Wootton
‘No excuse’: ASIC seeks $27m fine against super giant for customer care fail
The corporate watchdog asked the Federal Court for a penalty with “real sting and burden” against AustralianSuper as a warning to the wider sector.
- Hannah Wootton
- Opinion
- Super wars
Union and employer boards make industry funds so successful
Industry super funds achieve strong performances precisely because of the equal representation on their boards – not despite it.
- Garry Weaven
Revealed: Which super fund directors earn the most
Payments to directors at one fund outstripped those of comparable size by more than half a million dollars, despite delivering worse returns than most of their rivals, analysis by AFR Weekend shows.
- Hannah Wootton
September
Mike Cannon-Brookes’ super rocket crashes to Earth
Millennial investing start-up Spaceship’s exit is a mercy killing, with investors sitting on an illiquid and uncertain return.
- Mark Di Stefano
Financial advice for $88: Super funds launch low-cost tools
Superannuation funds have ramped up their financial advice offerings, but the type of advice they can provide remains limited.
- Michelle Bowes
Super funds’ meteoric rise poses new risks to financial stability: RBA
The $3.9 trillion sector’s rapid growth and its large exposure to the banking sector could amplify shocks in the future, the central bank has warned.
- Hannah Wootton and Jonathan Shapiro
- Opinion
- Letters to the Editor
A plea for genuine reform from a young taxpayer
Readers’ letters on the lack of meaningful policy thinking; misleading discounts; the plague of populism; training for accountants; attacks on Hezbollah; and Gina Rinehart’s email.
Raising property taxes would reduce home prices but increase rents
Curtailing negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount would slightly reduce home prices, but put upward pressure on rents, housing economists say.
- John Kehoe
- Exclusive
- Superannuation
The country’s two mega funds now attract half of all new super
But the growth of AustralianSuper and Australian Retirement Trust beyond all their other peers could be a “double-edged sword” according to some analysts.
- Jonathan Shapiro and Hannah Wootton
Cbus’ CFMEU fallout ‘shows APRA’s weakness in super oversight’
Super funds get “preferential treatment” compared with banks and insurers, which may leave retirees out of pocket down the track.
- Hannah Wootton
- Exclusive
- Franking credits
Bank investors face $1b franking credit hit
Hundreds of thousands of bank investors stand to lose tax credits under the prudential regulator’s plan to phase out hybrid securities.
- John Kehoe and Jonathan Shapiro
Super boards can rely on ‘reasonable’ outside advice: court
The corporate watchdog has lost a case claiming Rest Super misled customers, with the judge finding the fund relied on reasonable legal advice from Allens.
- Hannah Wootton
Tapping super for housing ‘a win for wealthy, older investors’
The Coalition policy would increase the borrowing of younger couples by only $90,000, compared with $400,000 for older investors, new analysis has found.
- Hannah Wootton
Minister, watchdog put onus on Cbus to decide on controversial directors
Industrial Relations Minister Murray Watt and the prudential watchdog sidestepped any endorsement of union firebrand Paddy Crumlin to the board.
- Hannah Wootton
Boss of worst super fund tapped to join Cbus board
The CFMEU administrator nominated Maritime Union boss Paddy Crumlin to the $92 billion construction industry fund’s board despite his stint chairing the failed Maritime Super.
- Hannah Wootton and Michael Read
More CFMEU directors removed from industry super fund boards
The union’s administrator has replaced the two BUSSQ directors with other CFMEU officials.
- Hannah Wootton
Just how naughty was AirTrunk’s Robin Khuda?
Let’s meditate on the businessman of the year’s fantastic origin story: his use of super to pay employees.
- Mark Di Stefano