Yesterday
Tax changes may make super the best place to stash cash
New analysis shows the changes will have the perverse effect of entrenching tax benefits for some of the country’s wealthiest, spurring calls for widespread tax reform.
- Hannah Wootton
This Month
- Opinion
- Tax reform
We need a tough treasurer to talk us through tax reform
What really matters for future living standards is government policy going above and beyond mediocre minor changes.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Tax reform
Tax reform fail threatening the social compact of a nation
A new tax review will have to look at what this generation can do for the Australians of the future.
- Ken Henry
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Tax review to avoid an ‘intergenerational tragedy’
Incremental change is a waste of time. Ken Henry says someone has to grab this thing and get on with it.
- The AFR View
‘Young people have been screwed’ on tax: former Treasury boss
Ken Henry has warned the social compact with workers shouldering a rising tax burden faces an “existential crisis”, unless reformers can persuade the public for major changes.
- Updated
- John Kehoe
March
- Analysis
- Tax reform
Why Comyn went ‘off script’ and called for a major tax shake-up
The Commonwealth Bank chief executive spoke out for income tax cuts and a higher GST in what he described as “heart in your mouth sort of stuff” for his advisers.
- John Kehoe
Tax cuts fail to beat inflation for high earners
Failure to recoup seven years of tax bracket creep under the stage three income tax cuts will leave high earners $6400 behind, new analysis shows.
- John Kehoe
- Exclusive
- ATO
The day a 34-year-old Sydneysider got a $116m tax bill
The Tax Office’s pursuit of a wealthy Taiwanese-Sydney family illustrates how investigations that take years can suddenly accelerate.
- Aaron Patrick
ASIC, APRA warn super funds on executive scrutiny
Regulators and lawyers have warned super funds they need to get their houses in order before tough new executive accountability laws come into force next year.
- Updated
- Hannah Wootton
Super funds accused of using ‘myths’ in ‘relentless lobby’ for less scrutiny
Funds are also using the current performance test as a “a convenient scapegoat” to justify subpar returns instead of explaining their poor results, Karen Chester says.
- Hannah Wootton
- Opinion
- Super wars
Time for super performance test facts and myth busting
The latest Treasury review should find what we already know: that the current test has delivered for members.
- Karen Chester and Brad Ruting
Former top public servant and regulator join big super board
Martin Parkinson and Helen Rowell will join the Australian Retirement Trust as directors as it ramps up the independence of its board.
- Hannah Wootton
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
This fundie says benchmark hugging is hurting super funds
London-based Stafford Capital boss Angus Whiteley says the sector’s performance test regime risks short-term thinking.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The real issue at the heart of Employment Hero’s super stoush
The battle between the start-up and industry fund Hostplus has many juicy elements, but it is how the super sector wields its power that is most interesting.
- James Thomson
Super funds’ director picks may be conflicted: Chronican
The warning comes as AustralianSuper CEO Paul Schroder says his fund is reserving its right to put a director on Origin’s board, and as the funds train up cohorts of future directors.
- Updated
- Hannah Wootton
Super pool to hit $14trn, but a handful of funds will control it
A new report by Mercer predicts that there would be just 77 super funds on the market within four years, but warns funds need to be more proactive in their governance to stay competitive.
- Updated
- Hannah Wootton
- Opinion
- Income tax
How we’ve lost the plot on tax and profit populism
Progressive activists have become so obsessed with distribution of income and profits, without giving any thought to first maximising the economic pie to be redistributed.
- John Kehoe
‘Never say never’: $150b super giant not pushing for board seats, yet
Aware Super boss Deanne Stewart says she prefers ‘private conversations’ with companies to encourage action on issues such as climate change, but did not rule out stronger interventions.
- Hannah Wootton and Gus McCubbing
- Exclusive
- Business Summit
HESTA pushes for climate-friendly directors at Woodside
The industry super giant is the first to move on what Paul Keating says will be a trend of funds using market power to seek influence on issues like energy transition.
- Sally Patten and Patrick Durkin
‘Heavy-handed’ rules needed to force super funds to help retirees
Labor may need to take the tough approach of increasing licensing or trustee duties if it wants super funds to improve treatment of customers approaching retirement.
- Hannah Wootton