Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda[Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]
2013-2014-2015-2016
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SUPERANNUATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (TRANSPARENCY
MEASURES) BILL 2016
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
(Circulated by authority of the
Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Kelly O'Dwyer MP)
Table of contents
Glossary ................................................................................................. 1
General outline and financial impact....................................................... 3
Chapter 1 Choice product dashboards .......................................... 5
Chapter 2 Portfolio holdings disclosure.........................................15
Chapter 3 Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights ............27
Index......................................................................................................29
Glossary
The following abbreviations and acronyms are used throughout this
explanatory memorandum.
Abbreviation Definition
APRA Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
ASIC Australian Securities and Investments
Commission
Bill Superannuation Legislation Amendment
(Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
Corporations Act Corporations Act 2001
FUM Funds under management
PHD Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
Regulation Superannuation Legislation Amendment
(Transparency Measures) Regulation 2016
Review Super System Review (The Cooper Review)
RIS Regulation Impact Statement
RSE Registrable superannuation entity
SIS Act Superannuation Industry (Supervision)
Act 1993
1
General outline and financial impact
Outline
The Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures)
Bill 2016 (the Bill) makes amendments to the Corporations Act 2001
(Corporations Act) to increase the quality of information available to
superannuation fund members and employers while ensuring that the
current obligations in the Corporations Act in relation to choice product
dashboards and portfolio holdings disclosure are workable for industry.
Improving the quality of information through improved disclosure will
increase transparency and allow consumers and employers to make
informed decisions about superannuation savings.
Transparency through improved disclosure is critical to the efficiency and
operation of Australia's market based superannuation system, as it
improves understanding, awareness and engagement across the
community.
The two measures contained in this Bill, choice product dashboards and
portfolio holdings disclosure (PHD), will improve transparency while
reducing potential costs for the superannuation industry.
Date of effect: 1 July 2017.
Financial impact: Low. This Bill will have no financial impact on the
Commonwealth.
Human rights implications: This Bill does not raise any human rights
issue. See Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights -- Chapter 3,
paragraphs 3.1 to 3.8.
Summary of regulation impact statement
Regulation impact on business
Impact: In accordance with the Government's best practice regulation
requirements, a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for early assessment
was prepared, and assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation. The
RIS will be finalised before the Superannuation Legislation Amendment
(Transparency Measures) Regulation 2016 (the Regulation) is made.
3
Chapter 1
Choice product dashboards
Outline of chapter
1.1 The Government wishes to ensure the public disclosure of risk,
return and fee information for regulated superannuation funds is easily
accessible to consumers, while minimising the compliance burden on
superannuation funds of such disclosure.
1.2 To achieve this objective, the Government will amend the
Corporations Act to limit the requirement for a trustee of a regulated
superannuation fund with five or more members to produce a choice
product dashboard to the fund's 10 largest choice investment options, as
measured by funds under management (FUM). The current requirement
prescribes the provision of a product dashboard for all the fund's choice
investment options. A power will be provided to prescribe by regulation
how the dashboard must be displayed on the fund's website, and how
information on the dashboard is to be set out.
Context of amendments
1.3 The Corporations Act requires trustees of certain superannuation
funds to publish on the fund's website a product dashboard. The
dashboard provides a summary of information for consumers about each
of the fund's MySuper and choice investment options.1 Product
dashboards are intended to assist members and other users such as
employers, review agencies and the media to more easily compare
investment options. The dashboard is also intended to assist members to
decide whether their current superannuation investment option is suitable
for them or whether to switch into a different investment option.
1
The product dashboard requirements were introduced by the Superannuation Legislation
Amendment (Further MySuper and Transparency Measures) Act 2012, with changes being
made by the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Service Providers and Other
Governance Measures) Act 2013.
5
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
1.4 The product dashboard requirements are set out in section
1017BA of the Corporations Act. In summary:
• Subsection 1017BA(1) provides that trustees of regulated
superannuation funds must produce a product dashboard for
each of their MySuper products and choice investment
options, and ensure that each product dashboard is available
publicly on the fund website, is updated as required and
contains the required information;
• Subsections 1017BA(2) and (3) provide that certain
information must be included, in accordance with the
regulations, in product dashboards;
• Subsection 1017BA(4) provides that product dashboards do
not have to be published for investment options within a
choice product in certain circumstances; and
• Subsection 1017BA(5) defines terms for the purposes of the
product dashboard. The terms 'choice product', 'member',
'MySuper product', and 'regulated superannuation fund' are
defined as having the same meaning as in the
Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act) as
these terms are used with the same underlying concepts and
are superannuation specific.
1.5 The product dashboard requirements took effect for MySuper
products on 31 December 2013. The Corporations Regulations 2001
specify the detailed requirements regarding the presentation and content
of the information in a product dashboard for a MySuper product
(regulations 7.9.07L-7.9.07W). Australian Prudential Regulation
Authority (APRA) Reporting Standard SRS 700.0 sets out further detailed
requirements for product dashboards.
1.6 The product dashboard requirements for choice investment
options were scheduled to take effect from 1 July 2014. Regulations
specifying the detailed requirements regarding the presentation and
content of the information have not been made to date.
1.7 Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Class Order [CO 14/443] originally delayed the requirement to provide
choice product dashboards until 1 July 2015. ASIC amended the Class
Order on 1 May 2015, deferring the start until 1 July 2016. The purpose of
this deferral is to allow further consultation on both the legislation and
regulations, and to provide industry with a reasonable period to prepare
for the detailed presentation and content requirements after they are
introduced.
6
Choice product dashboards
Summary of new law
1.8 The new law amends the existing provisions relating to product
dashboards in section 1017BA of the Corporations Act. An important
change limits the requirement to provide a choice product dashboard to a
superannuation fund's ten largest choice investment options, as measured
by FUM, instead of for all investment options. Funds still have to provide
a product dashboard for all their MySuper products.
1.9 A new power is provided to prescribe in regulations how a
product dashboard must be displayed on a fund's website. This power will
cover both MySuper products and choice investment options.
1.10 Certain types of choice investment options are excluded from
the requirement to provide a product dashboard. A power to exclude
further types of products by regulation is provided.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
New law Current law
Trustees of regulated superannuation Trustees of regulated superannuation
funds with five or more members funds with five or more members
must publish a choice product must publish a product dashboard for
dashboard for each of their fund's ten each of the investment options within
largest choice investment options, as a fund's choice products.
measured by FUM. This restriction is
achieved through the new definition
of a 'qualifying choice investment
option' to which the dashboard
requirements apply.
For MySuper and choice lifecycle
products, a separate dashboard must
be provided for each lifecycle stage
(in the case of choice lifecycle
products, this rule only applies if the
lifecycle product as a whole is among
a fund's 10 largest choice investment
options).
Regulations setting out content and Trustees must ensure that certain
presentation requirements for choice information is included, in
product dashboards will be made accordance with the regulations, in a
separately. product dashboard for a choice
product.
Regulations setting out content and
presentation requirements have not
been made.
7
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
New law Current law
Product dashboards must be available Product dashboards must be available
on the fund's website. Regulations on the fund's website.
can prescribe the manner in which
MySuper and choice product
dashboards must be disclosed
publicly. Regulations prescribing
relevant matters will be made
separately.
In addition to the existing Product dashboards do not have to be
exemptions, pooled superannuation published for investment options
trusts and eligible rollover funds will within a choice product in certain
be exempted from the product circumstances.
dashboard requirements. A general
power to provide further exemptions
from the choice dashboard
requirements by regulation will be
inserted.
Detailed explanation of new law
Schedule 1 -- Product dashboards
Corporations Act 2001
1.11 It should be easy for trustees of superannuation funds to
navigate the dashboard requirements when complying with the law. As
such, subtitles are inserted into the legislation for ease of reading A new
subtitle 'Making product dashboards publicly available' is inserted before
subsection 1017BA(1). Subsection 1017BA(1) then sets out the
requirements for making product dashboards publicly available. A further
subtitle 'What product dashboards must set out' is inserted before
subsection 1017BA(2). Subsection 1017BA(2) then establishes what must
be set out for MySuper product dashboards and subsection 1017BA(3)
establishes what must be set out for choice product dashboards. [Schedule 1,
item 1, subsections 1017BA(1) and (1A)]
1.12 New subsection 1017BA(1) removes the requirement in existing
paragraph 1017BA(1)(a) that a product dashboard must be available on a
fund's website for each of its MySuper products and choice investment
options. New paragraph 1017BA(1)(a) requires a product dashboard to be
available at all times on a fund's website for each of a fund's MySuper
products and qualifying choice investment options. A power is included
to provide an exemption through regulations from the product dashboard
requirements for MySuper products. Qualifying choice investment option
8
Choice product dashboards
is defined as set out below in subsection 1017BA(4). [Schedule 1, item 1,
paragraph 1017BA(1)(a)]
1.13 A product dashboard must set out the content for MySuper and
choice products as prescribed in subsections 1017BA(2) and (3)
respectively. The key content elements include: return target, returns, a
comparison between return target and return, level of investment risk, and
a statement of fees and other costs. Dashboard information must be
updated within 28 days of a change occurring. ASIC's general view is that
funds should update dashboards when they have all the necessary
information, as discussed in ASIC Information Sheet 170. Existing
paragraph 1017BA(1)(e) allows the regulations to prescribe how
information must be set out in a product dashboard. New
paragraph 1017BA(1)(d) includes this provision, and adds a new power
for the regulations to prescribe how a product dashboard is to be displayed
on a fund's website. The matters that will be prescribed using these
powers are highly technical and detailed, and as such are not suitable for
inclusion in the Act. They could include the detailed manner in which
particular information, for example fee information, is presented, using
specified formats. With regard to the display of product dashboards on a
fund's website, this power could be used for example to prescribe how
consumers can access the dashboard from the fund's homepage, the types
of links required, and the file formats that must be used for the dashboard.
[Schedule 1, item 1, paragraphs 1017BA(1)(b), (c) and (d)]
1.14 A new subsection (1A) is inserted after subsection 1017BA(1)
providing an exemption from the product dashboard requirements for
pooled superannuation trusts and eligible rollover funds (as defined
below). The reason for this exemption is that pooled superannuation trusts
have no individual members, and eligible rollover funds generally hold
the assets of lost or inactive members. A power is also created to provide
further exemptions through regulations. This power would be used if it
should emerge that there are other types of products which are unsuitable
for the production of a product dashboard. If a product dashboard is being
prepared for a choice investment option for the first time, because it is one
of the qualifying choice investment options as determined at the end of
the previous financial year, then a period extending until 1 October of the
current financial year is provided before the dashboard must be made
available. This will provide trustees with sufficient time to make the
necessary arrangements for publication of the dashboard. It is noted that
this extended period will apply in the first year when the dashboard
requirements come into effect, i.e. from 1 July 2017. This means that for
choice investment options the first dashboards will have to be made
available by 1 October 2017. Furthermore, if a different investment option
falls within a fund's top 10 when measured on 30 June 2018, for example,
a dashboard will be required by 1 October 2018. MySuper products do not
benefit from this relief, as they are already under the obligation to publish
9
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
dashboards. For MySuper products new dashboards consistent with the
requirements in this Bill (and any associated regulations) will have to be
made available on 1 July 2017. [Schedule 1, item 1, subsection 1017BA(1A)]
1.15 Existing paragraph 1017BA(2)(b) allows the regulations to
prescribe other information that must be set out in a MySuper product
dashboard. APRA Reporting Standard SRS 700.0 sets out the
requirements for the provision of information to APRA relating to product
dashboards. An additional power is provided allowing the regulations to
prescribe that APRA or ASIC may determine instructions for how that
other information is to be displayed. This power enables APRA and/or
ASIC to prescribe, where and if appropriate, the format for how the
information must be displayed. [Schedule 1, item 2, At the end of
subsection 1017BA(2)]
1.16 Subsection 1017BA(3) is amended to ensure that it only applies
to qualifying choice investment options, i.e. a fund's ten largest choice
investment options, as measured by FUM. [Schedule 1, item 3, Subsection
1017BA(3)]
1.17 The wording 'for each investment option offered within the
choice product' is removed from paragraph 1017BA(3)(a). These words
are not required, as they are superseded by the changes made in the
previous item 3 that make it clear that this entire subsection only applies
to qualifying choice investment options. [Schedule 1, item 4, Paragraph
1017BA(3)(a)]
1.18 Paragraph 1017BA(3)(b) allows the regulations to prescribe
other information that must be set out in a choice product dashboard. An
additional power is provided allowing the regulations to prescribe that
APRA or ASIC may determine instructions for how such other
information is to be displayed. This power is similar to that provided in
relation to MySuper products, as explained above under item 2. [Schedule 1,
item 5, At the end of subsection 1017BA(3)]
1.19 Subsection 1017BA(4) is amended to include a new definition of
qualifying choice investment options to which the dashboard
requirements apply. These are a fund's ten largest choice investment
options, as measured by FUM. This means that each fund is only required
to publish a maximum of ten dashboards for choice investment options (in
addition to a dashboard for a MySuper product), as compared to the
previous requirement where a dashboard had to be published for all of a
fund's investment options. In calculating total FUM of an investment
option, all funds should be included regardless of investment vehicle. For
example, if an investment option is listed on multiple platforms, funds
invested through all platforms should be aggregated in calculating total
FUM for the investment option. It is noted that if a fund wishes to
continue publishing a choice product dashboard, for example in a situation
10
Choice product dashboards
where an investment option stops being one of its ten largest investment
options, the legislation does not prevent it from doing so. Funds are able
to display such dashboards as long as they are not misleading. [Schedule 1,
item 6, Subsection 1017BA(4)]
1.20 A number of existing exemptions applying to guaranteed
products and investment options limited to investing in a single asset are
moved to new subsection 1017BA(4A). The single asset exemption will
for example ensure that a direct investment in BHP shares using a
platform is not treated as an investment option which is required to issue a
product dashboard. The single asset exemption however does not exempt
investment options simply because they are a single asset class. A power
to exempt further types of investment options by regulation is included.
This power would be used if further types of products are found to be
unsuitable for the production of product dashboards. [Schedule 1, item 6,
paragraphs 1017BA(4A)(a), (b), (c) and (d)]
1.21 Existing subsection 1017BA(4A), which allows regulations to
determine under what circumstances the single asset exemption should
apply, is retained as new subsection 1017BA(4B). [Schedule 1, item 6,
subsection 1017BA(4B)]
1.22 A new subsection (4C) is inserted in section 1017BA amending
the existing definition of fee in subsection 1017BA(5) to ensure that it
applies to qualifying choice investment options. At the same time, the
definition is simplified and shortened by using the defined term excluded
fee (as defined below). This definition applies to fees that need to be set
out in the product dashboard and refers to fees that may be charged under
the SIS Act. Part 11A of the SIS Act establishes general fees rules which
all regulated superannuation funds are required to comply with. This Part
contains prohibitions and restrictions on certain types of fees, but does not
prescribe fees which are allowed to be charged. Part 2C Division 5
prescribes the fees that can be charged for MySuper products.[Schedule 1,
item 7, subsection 4C]
1.23 New subsection (4D) states that subsections 1017BA(1), (1A),
(2), and (4C) apply to MySuper lifecycle products as if each reference to a
MySuper product was a reference to each lifecycle stage included in the
product. This means that a separate product dashboard must be prepared
for each lifecycle stage of a MySuper lifecycle product, the reason being
that each stage is likely to have a different mix of investments. Relevant
definitions, including the definition of a lifecycle stage, are provided in
subsection 1017BA(5). See the relevant paragraph below for further
details. [Schedule 1, item 7, subsection 1017BA(4D)]
1.24 A similar approach is applied to choice lifecycle products in new
subsection 1017BA(4E). However, because subsection 1017BA(4), which
sets out the definition of qualifying choice investment option, is not
11
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
included in the scope of subsection 1017BA(4E), choice lifecycle
products will be treated as one single product for purposes of calculating
whether they are within a fund's top ten investment options by FUM. That
is to say, the FUM for all the lifecycle stages included in the product must
be aggregated for purposes of this calculation. If they are within the top
ten investment options by FUM, new subsection 1017BA(4E) prescribes
that they will have to produce a separate dashboard for each lifecycle
stage, for the same reason as explained in the previous paragraph. [Schedule
1, item 7, subsection 1017BA(4E) and note]
1.25 A number of new definitions are inserted in
subsection 1017BA(5). A custodial arrangement is defined to have the
same meaning as in section 1012IA of the Corporations Act. Eligible
rollover fund is defined as having the same meaning as in the SIS Act.
The term excluded fee is defined to include activity, advice and insurance
fees as defined in the SIS Act. This term is used to simplify the definition
of fee in new subsection (4C). [Schedule 1, item 8, Subsection 1017BA(5)]
1.26 The definition of fee in subsection 1017BA(5) is amended to
refer to the new definition in subsection (4C). [Schedule 1, item 9, Subsection
1017BA(5) (definition of fee)]
1.27 Five further definitions are inserted in subsection 1017BA(5).
The first definition makes it clear that the term investment option includes
choice products that do not offer multiple investment options.
1.28 Investment options acquired under a platform are intended to be
captured by the dashboard requirement. For example, a dashboard is
required for an investment option acquired under a platform where it is
one of the fund's ten largest investment options by FUM and does not
satisfy any of the other criteria exempting them from the dashboard
requirements (for example by being wholly invested in another single
asset). To put this beyond doubt an investment option includes financial
products acquired under a custodial arrangement. The regulation-making
power in paragraph 1017BA(4A)(d) could be used to narrow this
inclusion if it is found that inappropriate financial products are captured.
1.29 While investment options acquired under a platform are
intended to be captured by the dashboard requirement, the platform itself
is not. To put this beyond doubt an investment option excludes a
custodial arrangement. The reason for this clarification is that platforms
cover large numbers of investment options and any whole of platform
dashboard would have to use aggregated figures for fees, returns and risk.
This would result in information that would be misleading in relation to
the investments of a particular member, who would in all likelihood only
have invested in a fraction of the available investment options. [Schedule 1,
item 10, subsection 1017BA(5), investment option]
12
Choice product dashboards
1.30 The second definition relates to the term lifecycle exception for
a MySuper product by referring to the definition in subsection 29TC(2) of
the SIS Act. That definition states that a lifecycle exception is a rule that
allows gains and losses to be streamed to different groups of fund
members based on age or other prescribed factors. The same definition is
then applied in the case of qualifying choice investment options.
1.31 The next definition of a lifecycle stage is linked to the definition
of lifecycle exception in that it is defined as so much of a lifecycle
MySuper product or qualifying choice investment option as relates to one
of the groups of fund members to which gains and losses are streamed
based on age or other factors.
1.32 Pooled superannuation trust is defined as having the same
meaning as in the SIS Act.
1.33 The final definition concerns the important term qualifying
choice investment option and states that the meaning of this term is given
by subsection 1017BA(4). [Schedule 1, item 10, Subsection 1017BA(5)]
1.34 Section 1021NA sets out a number of offences in relation to the
product dashboard requirements in section 1017BA. The wording of
paragraphs 1021NA(1)(b) and (c) is amended to reflect the changes made
to section 1017BA by this Bill. The fundamental offence remains the
same, which is failing to comply with the requirement in section 1017BA
to make a product dashboard publicly available. [Schedule 1, item 11,
Paragraphs 1021NA(1)(b) and (c)]
Application and transitional provisions
1.35 Paragraph 1539(a) is amended to reflect the fact that the
MySuper product dashboard requirements took effect from
31 December 2013. [Schedule 1, item 12, Paragraph 1539(a)]
1.36 Paragraph 1539(b) is amended to specify that the product
dashboard requirements with regard to choice investment options will
apply from 1 July 2017. This will provide industry stakeholders with
sufficient time to prepare for the publication of their choice product
dashboards as prescribed. As explained above, the first dashboards for
choice investment options will have to be made available on
1 October 2017, and funds will need to comply with the new rules for
MySuper products from 1 July 2017. The additional time for choice
investment options is provided because funds will only be able to
determine their top ten investment options after 30 June 2017. All
MySuper products are already required to have a product dashboard, and
13
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
funds will have sufficient time to make changes, as the legislation and
associated regulations are expected to be publicly available well in
advance of the 1 July 2017 deadline. [Schedule 1, item 13, Paragraph 1539(b)]
14
Chapter 2
Portfolio holdings disclosure
Outline of chapter
2.1 This Chapter explains the amendments to the Corporations Act
that refine the requirements for registrable superannuation entity (RSE)
licensees to publish their portfolio holdings. The purpose of these
amendments is to ensure that superannuation fund members, and other
stakeholders including financial analysts, have access to information
about the portfolio holdings of superannuation funds, while minimising
the compliance burden on RSE licensees.
Context of amendments
Existing requirements for trustees to publish details of portfolio
holdings
2.2 Under the current law trustees of an RSE (other than a pooled
superannuation trust) must publish their fund's portfolio holdings on the
fund's website twice a year (subsection 1017BB(1) of the Corporations
Act).
2.3 The information must be sufficient to identify each financial
product or other property, and the value of the investment in each
financial product or other property. The legislation does not differentiate
between assets held in a fund's associated entities and its non-associated
entities. As such, the same level of disclosure is required.
2.4 Disclosure is required for all assets the fund invests in on a full
'look through' basis by including 'assets derived from assets' in the scope
of investments covered by the provision. For example, this means that full
disclosure must be made with respect to multiple levels of investments.
2.5 To enable trustees to meet these obligations, a party acquiring a
financial product from another party must notify the second party if the
purchase is being made using the funds of the RSE and provide the second
party with details of the RSE (subsections 1017BC(1)-(2) of the
Corporations Act). Where this occurs, the second party is required to
provide the trustees of the RSE with information on the financial product
or any other property acquired using assets of the RSE fund
(subsection 1017BC(3) of the Corporations Act).
15
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
2.6 The existing portfolio holdings disclosure (PHD) requirements
were introduced in 2012 by the Superannuation Legislation Amendment
(Further MySuper and Transparency Measures) Act 2012.
2.7 Commencement of these disclosure requirements was initially
delayed until 1 July 2015 through ASIC Class Order [CO 14/443]. The
requirements were originally due to take effect from 31 December 2013.
ASIC amended the Class Order on 1 May 2015, deferring the start for
PHD reporting until 1 July 2016.
2.8 Consultation on the existing PHD obligations indicated that
there were significant compliance costs in collecting and collating data for
all assets held indirectly (held by third parties). Concerns have also been
raised by some superannuation funds about the requirement to disclose
data which relates to private equity investments, unlisted assets and other
commercial in confidence arrangements. The amendments in this Bill will
address these and other concerns raised by industry stakeholders.
Summary of new law
2.9 The new law amends the existing PHD obligations in the
Corporations Act. Two important changes are the removal of:
• the obligation to include information about financial
products, or other property that non-associated entities have
directly invested in; and
• the reporting obligations on parties to contracts and
arrangements that acquire a financial product using the
assets, or assets derived from assets, of an RSE.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
New law Current law
RSEs will be required to publish, for RSEs are required to disclose
each of their investment options, information at the entity level to
information about the nature and identify the nature and value of assets
value of financial products or other held directly, through associated
property that they, or an associated entities and non-associated entities.
entity, have invested in. For MySuper products that have a
lifecycle option, RSEs are required to
disclose assets held at each lifecycle
stage.
16
Portfolio holdings disclosure
New law Current law
Information relating to the first Information on all investments held
investment in non-associated entities by the RSE, including both associated
will need to be disclosed. Investments entities and non-associated entities
held through non-associated entities are required to be disclosed.
will not be required to be disclosed.
A number of exemptions are provided
to address situations where the
disclosure of valuations may not be
meaningful or in the best interests of
members.
It is assumed that RSEs will be able A party acquiring a financial product
to obtain sufficient information from or other property from an associated
associated entities in order to comply entity using the assets of an RSE
with their PHD requirements, and that must provide notification that the
no obligation in the law is required. financial product or other property is
being acquired using the funds of the
RSE and supply the details of the
RSE.
No similar provision required as An entity holding financial
assets held through non-associated products/other property acquired
entities will not be required to be using the funds of an RSE is required
disclosed. RSEs will be able to obtain to provide the RSE with information
the required information from about the product/property being
associated entities. acquired. The entity will also have to
notify the RSE about any other
products/property acquired using
assets of the RSE that are held by
associated entities of the RSE. The
information has to be sufficient to
enable the RSE trustee to satisfy the
PHD regime requirements.
No similar provision required as If purchased through an agent, the
assets held through non-associated agent must notify the seller that the
entities will not be required to be product/other property is being
disclosed. acquired using the funds of an RSE
and supply the details of the RSE.
Detailed explanation of new law
Trustees must publish details of portfolio holdings
2.10 RSE licensees will continue to have an obligation to make
publicly available the details of their portfolio holdings twice annually
after each reporting day, which are 30 June and 31 December each year,
by publishing this information on the fund's website within 90 days.
[Schedule 2, item 1, subsections 1017BB(1) and (6)]
17
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
2.11 The details published must include information sufficient to
identify, for each investment option offered by the RSE:
• each financial product, or other property (disclosable assets)
in which the RSE, or an associated entity of the RSE, has
invested in; and
• the value of the investment in each financial product or other
property, as specified in the definition of the term disclosable
asset, unless an exemption is provided in the regulations (see
further explanation of this requirement and exemption in the
next paragraph).
[Schedule 2, item 1, paragraphs 1017BB(1)(a), (b) and (d)]
2.12 The sufficient information required to be obtained, will be
determined by the way that the information will be disclosed. This
information will include but is not limited to the name of the investment
option or disclosable asset.
2.13 The total value of all investments in financial products or other
property must be provided [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 1017BB(1)(c)]. The
value of each investment must be reported separately, unless the
regulations provide an exemption from this requirement. The regulations
may also prescribe that a total value of all investments of a particular kind
has to be disclosed, instead of a separate value for each individual
investment within that class.
2.14 This regulation-making power is intended to address situations
where disclosure of detailed valuations may be commercially sensitive or
may disadvantage the fund and its members, such as in the case of
investments in directly held property. For such investments the disclosure
of detailed price information may either be impossible, due to the inherent
difficulty of estimating their value, or may even create a competitive
disadvantage, for example in situations where the fund is negotiating to
sell the investment. The ability to require disclosure of a total value
provides the possibility to prescribe the disclosure of summary
information which may be of some value to analysts or members in
understanding the holdings of the fund, without disclosing commercially
sensitive information [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraphs 1017BB(1)(c), (d) and (e)].
2.15 The disclosure of a fund's portfolio holdings will provide its
members with information on where their member contributions are being
directed. It is expected that given the detailed nature of the information
required to be disclosed, financial analysts will disseminate the
information to facilitate increased useability of the disclosed information.
18
Portfolio holdings disclosure
2.16 Importantly, while the RSE must disclose information about an
RSE, or an associate of the RSE, as well as investments in a
non-associated entity, it does not need to disclose information about the
investments of non-associated entities. Associates are defined in the
Corporations Act in section 50AAA. The PHD obligations apply to all
assets held directly or through associated entities, regardless of the legal
structure through which the investments are made.
2.17 As required under the existing law the RSE must ensure that the
information:
• continues to be made publicly available on the RSE's website
until it makes the information pertaining to the next reporting
period publicly available (subsection 1017BB(2)); and
• is organised in accordance with the regulations (subsection
1017BB(3)).
19
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
Example 2.1
PHD REGIME REQUIREMENTS FOR TOP SUPER'S HIGH
GROWTH FUND
Diagram 2.1
Top Super
(RSE)
High Growth Fund
(Investment Option)
Nestar Holdings
Shares Eagle Six Corp Government
(Non-associated
in WYE (Associated Bonds
entity)
Entity)
Atar Ltd Prodime Corp Shares
(Associated (Non-associated in KPF
Entity) entity)
Shares Westbank
in WJL Estate
Top super has directed $100 million of its member contributions into
its High Growth Fund investment option.
High Growth Fund subsequently directed the $100 million as follows:
• $10 million in shares of WYE;
• $20 million in Government bonds;
• $50 million in Eagle Six Corp (an associated managed investment
scheme); and
• $20 million in Nestar Holdings (a non-associated managed
investment scheme).
20
Portfolio holdings disclosure
Subsequently:
• Eagle Six Corporation directed $20 million (of the $50 million)
into Atar Limited (an associated entity) and $30 million into
Prodime Corporation (a non-associated entity); and
• Nestar Holdings directed $20 million into shares in KPF.
Finally:
• Atar Limited directed $20 million into shares in WJL; and
• Prodime Corporation directed $30 million into the Westbank Estate
commercial property.
PHD regime requirements
The table below sets out the disclosure requirements for the financial products
and other property that Top Super has allocated to High Growth Fund.
Financial product/property Disclosure Reason
required?
Shares in WYE Yes Top Super directly invested in
$10 million WYE shares.
Eagle Six Corp MIS Yes Top Super directly invested in
$50 million Eagle Six Corporation MIS.
Atar Ltd Yes Eagle Six Corp MIS, an
$20 million (of the $50 million associated entity of Top Super
invested in Eagle Corp MIS) directly invested in Atar Ltd.
Shares in WJL Yes Atar Ltd, an associated entity of
$20 million (of the $20 million Top Super, directly invested in
invested in Atar Ltd) WJL shares.
Prodime Corp Yes Eagle Six Corp MIS, an
$30 million (of the $50 million associated entity of Top Super
invested in Eagle Six Corp directly invested into Prodime
MIS) Corp.
Westbank Estate No Prodime Corp, a non-associated
$30 million (of the $30 million entity of Top Super, directly
invested in Prodime Corp) invested in Westbank Estate.
Government Bonds Yes Top Super directly invested in
20 million Government Bonds.
Nestar Holdings MIS Yes Top Super invested directly into
$20 million Nestar Holding MIS
(a non-associated entity).
Shares in KPF No Nestar Holdings, a non-associated
$20 million (of the $20 million entity of Top Super, invested
invested in Nestar Holdings). directly in KPF shares.
21
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
Exemptions from the disclosure requirements
2.18 There are a number of exclusions from the PHD requirements to
reduce the compliance burden on RSEs where the benefit of disclosure of
investment details for members and their employers is limited. The
exemptions cover the following circumstances:
• The RSE is a pooled superannuation trust, single member
fund or a small APRA fund. The reason for this exemption is
that pooled superannuation trusts have no individual
members. The others only have one member or a very small
number of members who can obtain information on their
fund's portfolio holdings through other means.
- Pooled superannuation trust has the same meaning as in
the SIS Act.
- Small APRA fund has the same meaning as in prudential
standards determined under section 34C of the SIS Act.
[Schedule 2, items 2 and 3, subsections 1017BB(4) and (6)]
• An RSE's investment option has been closed to new
members for at least 5 years (legacy products). This
exemption recognises that as these investment options are not
able to be accessed by new members, the costs that the
requirements impose on superannuation funds, which will
ultimately be borne by the members, outweigh any benefits
that asset level disclosure may provide. [Schedule 2, item 2,
paragraph 1017BB(5)(a)]
• Financial products, or other property, that are not a material
investment for an investment option. Regulations can be
made setting out further details on how this measure is to be
applied, if required. This exemption and the related
regulation making power are carried over from the existing
legislation (subsection 1017BB(4)). [Schedule 2, item 2,
paragraph 1017BB(5)(b)]
• RSE trustees may determine up to five per cent of the assets
attributable to each of their investment options for which
they are not required to make information publicly available.
In order to qualify for this exemption the prescribed
information that would otherwise have to be disclosed about
the selected investments must be commercially sensitive and
the disclosure of the information must be detrimental to the
interests of the members of the fund. This provides RSE
trustees with the flexibility to select a limited number of
investments which comply with the prescribed criteria for
22
Portfolio holdings disclosure
which the information required under subsection 1017BB(1)
does not have to be made publicly available. Examples of
where the disclosure of information in relation to an
investment would be detrimental to the interests of the
members of the fund include situations where:
- the disclosure of the investment would negatively impact
the potential return from a particular investment; or
- an RSE was precluded from making an investment, when
the RSE was of the view that the members of the fund
would benefit from the making of that investment.
• The types of investments that are likely to fall within this
exemption are asset classes such as private equity and
venture capital investments. [Schedule 2, item 2,
paragraph 1017BB(5)(c)]
• Investments in financial products or other property which are
allocated to a defined benefit fund on the basis that their
returns are not dependent on the fund's holdings. This
provision will also exempt the defined benefit element of a
hybrid fund but not the accumulation element, for which the
prescribed information will have to be disclosed. This
exemption will apply as long as the assets which support the
defined benefit element of a hybrid fund can be identified. If
that is not possible, or is difficult to achieve, the legislation
does not prevent RSEs from voluntarily disclosing PHD
information relating to defined benefit funds. [Schedule 2,
item 2, paragraph 1017BB(5)(d)]
- Defined benefit fund has the same meaning as in
Division 3A of Part 8 of the SIS Act.
• The RSE is a guaranteed life product as defined in
paragraph 1017BA(4A)(a). The benefits provided to
members of such products are not dependent on the
performance of the underlying investments of the fund.
[Schedule 2, item 2, paragraph 1017BB(5)(e)]
• The regulations exempt the kind of investment product held
by the fund. This power provides the flexibility to exempt
other types of investments for which disclosure of the
prescribed information may be of no benefit or detrimental to
the interests of the fund and its members. [Schedule 2, item 2,
paragraph 1017BB(5)(f)]
23
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
2.19 Clarification is provided that a choice product with only one
investment option is itself considered to be an investment option to which
the PHD requirements apply. A MySuper product as defined in the SIS
Act is also considered to be such an investment option. [Schedule 2, item 3,
subsection 1017BB(6)]
2.20 The reporting obligations on parties to contracts and
arrangements under which financial products or other property are
acquired using the assets, or assets derived from assets, of an RSE will be
repealed. These obligations were primarily designed to enable trustees to
obtain information from non-associated entities. They are no longer
required because the amended PHD obligations only extend to associated
entities. [Schedule 2, item 4, sections 1017BC, 1017BD and 1017BE]
Consequential amendments
2.21 A number of amendments are required as a consequence of the
repeal of the provisions in item 4 above, as follows:
• The reference to repealed subsection 1017BC(3) in
paragraph 1020E(1)(c) is deleted. [Schedule 2, item 5,
paragraph 1020E(1)(c)]
• The reference to repealed section 1017BC in subsection
1020E(11) (paragraph (d) of the definition of defective) is
removed. [Schedule 2, item 6, subsection 1020E(11)];
• The offence provision in section 1021NC is removed, as it
applies to repealed sections 1017BC, 1017BD and 1017BE.
[Schedule 2, item 7, section 1021NC]
• Paragraph 1022B(1)(h), including the "or" in subparagraph
1022B(1)(g)(iii), is removed, as it refers to repealed
subsection 1017BC(3). [Schedule 2, items 8 and 9,
subparagraph 1022B(1)(g)(iii) and paragraph 1022B(1)(h)]
• References to repealed section 1021NC in subparagraphs
1041H(3)(a)(iii) and 1041K(1)(a)(iii) are removed.
[Schedule 2, items 10 and 11, subparagraphs 1041H(3)(a)(iii) and
1041K(1)(a)(iii)]
• The application provision relating to repealed section
1017BC is removed. [Schedule 2, item 13, section 1541]
• The table items 308AG, 308AH and 308AI in the list of
penalties in Schedule 3 are removed, as they refer to repealed
section 1021NC. [Schedule 2, item 15, Schedule 3 (table items
308AG, 308AH and 308AI)]
24
Portfolio holdings disclosure
Application and transitional provisions
2.22 The new application date of 31 December 2017 is established
for the PHD reporting obligation in subsection 1017BB(1). [Schedule 2,
item 12, section 1540]
2.23 New Part 10.22A, containing new section 1541A, is inserted to
provide the location for the transitional provisions relating to the
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures)
Act 2016. The amendments made by this Act will apply from the reporting
day that is 31 December 2017. [Schedule 2, item 14, section 1541A]
25
Chapter 3
Statement of Compatibility with Human
Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights
(Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures)
Bill 2016
3.1 This Bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms
recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3
of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview
3.2 This Bill aims to increase the quality of information available to
superannuation fund members and employers by requiring the publication
of choice product dashboards and portfolio holdings disclosure.
3.3 The Corporations Act requires trustees of certain superannuation
funds to publish on the fund's website a product dashboard. The
dashboard provides a summary of information for consumers about each
of a fund's MySuper and choice products. Information is provided
regarding important factors such as historical and targeted returns, risk
and fees. Product dashboards are intended to assist members to more
easily compare investment options.
3.4 The dashboard requirements are already in operation for
MySuper products. It is now proposed to extend the requirement so that a
trustee of a regulated superannuation fund with five or more members has
to produce a choice product dashboard for the fund's 10 largest choice
investment options, as measured by funds under management. A power
will be provided to prescribe by regulation how the dashboard must be
displayed on the fund's website, and how information on the dashboard is
to be set out.
3.5 Under the current law trustees of a superannuation fund must
publish their fund's portfolio holdings on the fund's website twice a year.
The information must be sufficient to identify each financial product or
27
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
other property, and the value of the investment in each financial product
or property.
3.6 The portfolio holdings disclosure requirement has not
commenced to date. The new law amends and implements the existing
portfolio holdings disclosure obligations. The main change is that the fund
must publish, for each of its investment options, information about the
nature and value of financial products or other property that the fund, or
an associated entity of the fund, has directly invested in. The obligation to
include information about financial products or other property that non
associated entities have directly invested in will be repealed.
Human rights implications
3.7 This Bill does not engage any of the applicable rights or
freedoms.
Conclusion
3.8 This Bill is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any
human rights issues.
28
Index
Schedule 1: Product dashboards
Bill reference Paragraph number
Item 1, subsections 1017BA(1) and (1A) 1.11
Item 1, paragraph 1017BA(1)(a) 1.12
Item 1, paragraphs 1017BA(1)(b), (c) and (d) 1.13
Item 1, subsection 1017BA(1A) 1.14
Item 2, At the end of subsection 1017BA(2) 1.15
Item 3, Subsection 1017BA(3) 1.16
Item 4, Paragraph 1017BA(3)(a) 1.17
Item 5, At the end of subsection 1017BA(3) 1.18
Item 6, Subsection 1017BA(4) 1.19
Item 6, paragraphs 1017BA(4A)(a), (b), (c) and (d) 1.20
Item 6, subsection 1017BA(4B) 1.21
Item 7, subsection 4C 1.22
Item 7, subsection 1017BA(4D) 1.23
Item 7, subsection 1017BA(4E) and note 1.24
Item 8, Subsection 1017BA(5) 1.25
Item 9, Subsection 1017BA(5) (definition of fee) 1.26
Item 10, subsection 1017BA(5), investment option 1.29
Item 10, Subsection 1017BA(5) 1.33
Item 11, Paragraphs 1021NA(1)(b) and (c) 1.34
Item 12, Paragraph 1539(a) 1.1
Item 13, Paragraph 1539(b) 1.2
29
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Transparency Measures) Bill 2016
Schedule 2: Portfolio holdings disclosure
Bill reference Paragraph number
Item 1, subsections 1017BB(1) and (6) 2.10
Item 1, paragraphs 1017BB(1)(a), (b) and (d) 2.11
Item 1, paragraph 1017BB(1)(c) 2.13
Item 1, paragraphs 1017BB(1)(c), (d) and (e) 2.14
Items 2 and 3, subsections 1017BB(4) and (6) 2.18
Item 2, paragraph 1017BB(5)(a) 2.18
Item 2, paragraph 1017BB(5)(b) 2.18
Item 2, paragraph 1017BB(5)(c) 2.18
Item 2, paragraph 1017BB(5)(d) 2.18
Item 2, paragraph 1017BB(5)(e) 2.18
Item 2, paragraph 1017BB(5)(f) 2.18
Item 3, subsection 1017BB(6) 2.19
Item 4, sections 1017BC, 1017BD and 1017BE 2.20
Item 5, paragraph 1020E(1)(c) 2.21
Item 6, subsection 1020E(11) 2.21
Item 7, section 1021NC 2.21
Items 8 and 9, subparagraph 1022B(1)(g)(iii) and paragraph 2.21
1022B(1)(h)
Items 10 and 11, subparagraphs 1041H(3)(a)(iii) and 2.21
1041K(1)(a)(iii)
Item 12, section 1540 2.22
Item 13, section 1541 2.21
Item 14, section 1541A 2.23
Item 15, Schedule 3 (table items 308AG, 308AH and 308AI) 2.21
30