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Hannah Wootton

Today

Decarbonisation is firmly in Anna Shelley’s sights as an issue to push companies on.

Big super to keep pushing companies on climate

New climate disclosure laws mean even retail super funds will engage with companies on climate this year. Poor workplace safety and governance is also a concern.

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This Month

UniSuper’s John Pearce and Rest Super interim co-CIO Simon Esposito acknowledge the risk of the sector’s size, but say super provides stability through deep, patient pools of capital.

Super admits its size is a risk but says ‘what is the alternative?’

The managers of Australia’s $4.1 trillion retirement savings pool say they are best placed to invest in banks and private lending despite warnings from the RBA and IMF.

Cbus chief investment officer Brett Chatfield and Aware Super CIO Damian Graham are among money managers expecting the Reserve Bank to begin cutting rates at its May or July meeting.

Top super investors dash pre-election rate cut hopes

But they say investors should be optimistic about inflation easing despite later cuts and risks associated with Donald Trump taking the White House.

Australian Super chief investment officer Mark Delany and HESTA CIO Sonya Sawtell-Rickson on US exceptionalism and where to find returns in 2025.

Where big super investors are hunting for returns in 2025

The investment bosses of the $4.1 trillion sector say US stocks will keep driving returns, but standout sharemarket performances will likely temper.

December 2024

Brad Battin after winning the Liberal Party leadership on Friday.

Brad Battin wins Victorian Liberal leadership with all-male team

Jess Wilson and Chris Crewther lost in a vote to replace John Pesutto on Friday morning as the Liberal Party voted in an all-male leadership team while much of Victoria was engulfed in bushfires.

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Super funds are set to deliver strong returns this calendar year.

‘Excellent return’: How much your super is expected to grow this year

Soaring equities at home and abroad are pushing returns firmly into the double digits as 2024 draws to a close, research houses say.

John Pesutto and Brad Battin will compete for the Liberal leadership.

Former cop Brad Battin to challenge for Victorian Liberal leadership

A spill vote against embattled Opposition Leader John Pesutto is slated for Friday, but a ballot will first decide if absent MPs can vote remotely.

Books,  The Season, Helen Garner. Juice, Tim Winton. We Solve Murders, Richard Osman. Tonight, Nagi/RecipeTin Eats. THe Chairman’s Loung, Joe Aston. Orbital, Samantha Harvey. Big Jim Begins, Dav Pilkey. In Too Deep, Lee Child

Australian authors dominate Christmas book sales

Tim Winton, Helen Garner, Joe Aston and Nagi Maehashi – or RecipeTin Eats, as her website is called – are leading sales and helping independent bookshops stay strong.

Australians’ retirement savings are on track for a stellar 2024.

Super savings on track for 11pc return in 2024

A US sharemarket rally fuelled by Donald Trump’s clean election sweep is fuelling a strong end to 2024 for superannuation funds.

Office towers are plummeting in value, but APRA says super funds are falling short on repricing their assets.

Super boards, executives failing on unlisted asset valuations

The regulator demanded funds sharpen their review processes, warning it will not hesitate to take further action and may pursue individuals.

Cbus has defended the high bill of its 40th birthday bash, which both John Setka and Wayne Swan attended.

Cbus says $387,000 birthday party was in members’ interests

The industry fund used money earmarked for staff professional development to host a 40th birthday bash for more than 750 guests

Cbus has become the poster child for industry super’s woes.

How Cbus’ big party year went horribly wrong

It’s not the biggest or the worst performing of the super funds. So why has Cbus become the poster child for the $4 trillion sector’s problems?

Mary Delahunty, CEO of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, says funds are working hard to develop their internal private credit capabilities.

How super funds are tapping the private credit boom

The $4 trillion sector is moving past classic unlisted assets to look at private debt, more creative private equity, social infrastructure and energy transition assets.

Hostplus paid a hefty sum to have its logo front and centre at Gold Coast Suns games in a previous sponsorship deal.

How big super is spending your money on sponsorship and marketing

Jumps in advertising spends at industry giants such as Aware Super and UniSuper came despite a crackdown by the watchdog questioning whether these costs are in members’ best interests.

November 2024

Cbus chairman Wayne Swan, left, and union-backed board appointee Paddy Crumlin.

Crumlin had ‘extensive experience’ in super before getting Cbus job

Construction industry super fund chairman Wayne Swan has defended CFMEU-appointee Paddy Crumlin’s suitability to help oversee its $94 billion in retirement savings.

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Wayne Swan will give evidence to the senate.

Wayne Swan caves to Senate demands over Cbus scandal

The former Labor treasurer and Cbus chairman had refused to appear at a Senate committee hearing until he was threatened with compulsion.

Cbus chairman and Labor powerbroker Wayne Swan’s testimony  has been requested before the senate.

Senate demands answers from Wayne Swan on Cbus scandal

It comes as Cbus faces a reckoning over its customer service and governance and after the fund tried to dodge earlier requests to appear before the Senate.

Big Super’s reckoning has arrived

After 32 years of guaranteed inflows from workers and scant scrutiny, the $3.9 trillion industry faces customer fury over service, unclear investment practices and questionable governance.

The loved ones of deceased AustralianSuper members will be compensated by the fund if it did not handle their claims fast enough.

AustralianSuper pays members back $4.2m over claims handling delays

The industry super giant is voluntarily compensating the loved ones of deceased members after an overhaul of its claims handling processes imposed tough new timelines.

Simone Constant has ramped up the heat on super fund executives even more, as the scandals engulfing the sector deepen.

Super chiefs risk pay cut for failings: ASIC, APRA

The corporate watchdog has threatened superannuation fund executives with penalties if they do not fix their customer service failings.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/hannah-wootton-h1gmvp