The coalition will reverse the government's cutbacks on concessional caps in superannuation and remove default funds in modern awards as part of its direction on superannuation policy, shadow minister for superannuation Luke Hartsuyker said.
"We will reverse Labor's cutbacks on concessional rates by redesigning concessional rates and what they hope to achieve," Hartsuyker said at an Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees of Australia lunch yesterday.
"We think they should encourage an adequate level of super before penalising the worker."
He said Labor's decision to include mandatory default funds in modern awards reduced competition.
"We will remove Labor's mandatory default funds in modern awards. Labor's default funds are reversing the competitive pressure on fees and performance," he said.
"Why should a superannuation fund strive to excel when their client base is guaranteed by legislative instrument?"
The Coalition will also look at boosting the superannuation guarantee levy through effective member engagement, according to Hartsuyker.
He has been looking at industry schemes that encourage "employers to discuss options with workers and encourage engagement in superannuation by offering incentives and choice".
"These schemes have had success rates in terms of numbers opting in to the scheme of up to 80 per cent," he said.
Hartsuyker said there must be an overhaul in people's mindset towards superannuation, similar to the changes in attitudes towards smoking and drink driving.
"If attitudes towards smoking remained, today I would be talking to all of you in a thick haze of blue smoke. Similarly, I think we need a big change in attitudes towards superannuation," he said.
"We need to get workers wanting to save more in superannuation rather than simply taking their money and managing it for them."
Hartsuyker was also concerned about the direction of the Cooper review, particularly on the back of the MySuper proposal leaked to the press last week.
"Forcing superannuation funds to offer a no frills default product to default workers who have made no election, which will offer no income insurance, limited disclosure, no real financial advice and no choice, is an idea that says to Australians 'the government will take your money and decide how it's invested.'"
