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Cbus

Yesterday

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.

  • Hannah Wootton

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.

  • Hannah Wootton
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.

  • Hannah Wootton
Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg.

Prudential watchdog must release secret Cbus review: advice

New advice from the clerk of the Senate argues APRA has no grounds to keep the critical review secret from parliament.

  • Lucas Baird

December 2024

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.

  • Hannah Wootton
Advertisement
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

  • Hannah Wootton
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ASIC sues Rex; ‘Australia needs a DOGE’; Trump launches perfume

Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.

As Super Members Council chair, I have seen first-hand how this governance model gives super fund members a clear voice at the board table.

Deloitte gave industry super governance a big tick

The report into Cbus’ fit and proper processes dispels assertions that the equal representative model is a barrier to funds getting the skills and expertise needed to govern these large financial institutions.

  • Ann Sherry
MLC owner Insignia reckons it can make more money and better serve superannuation fund members by outsourcing its backoffice functions.

Global super giant finds Aussie beachhead at MLC

This is a deal like few others – big on employees and software, light on cash. The bigger thing is what it could do for Australia’s superannuation sector.

  • Anthony Macdonald
The NSW Supreme Court found that the transfer of control over the $1.7 billion Macquarie Centre to Dexus was a breach of contract.

Dexus appeals forced sale of $830m Macquarie Centre stake

Dexus is disputing a court decision that requires one of its managed funds to sell a half stake in the Sydney shopping mall to its co-investors.

  • Campbell Kwan
Only one per cent of AFR readers believe the Greens have done the best job of the political parties this year.

Greens the worst political performers of 2024: AFR readers

The Greens have been judged the worst-performing party by readers of The Australian Financial Review, who criticised its MPs for obstructing parliament.

  • Tom Rabe
Ideally, super should be boring. But at $94 billion Cbus things seem disconcertingly tumultuous.

Want out of Cbus? Here’s how to pick a good super fund

Cbus, the industry super fund chaired by former Labor Treasurer Wayne Swan, has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. If you’re thinking about running for the exits, here are some key considerations and options.

  • Michelle Bowes
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Victoria’s asset sale; MinRes’ gag request; Wesfarmers’ rates alert

Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.

AFRGIF-051224podcast-the-fin-murray-thomson-wootton

Big super reckoning: what the Cbus woes mean for industry funds

This week on The Fin podcast, James Thomson and Hannah Wootton on the case against the firm, what it means for industry funds and why the “super wars” are back.

Cbus chairman Wayne Swan is sure the fund’s expenditures are value for money. Deloitte isn’t.

Wayne Swan’s Cbus testimony an unexploded bomb

A discrepancy has now emerged between Wayne Swan’s (very) recent Senate testimony and the findings of a review dated two days before his appearance.

  • Myriam Robin
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Cbus chairman Wayne Swan.

Cbus’ Swan has ‘serious questions’ to answer: Coalition

Fundamental transparency and accountability failings at the industry super fund may yet claim the scalp of its chairman.

  • Michelle Bowes, Joanna Mather and Lucy Dean
Beleaguered Cbus chair Wayne Swan has defended the fund while also apologising to members.

‘Failings’ in Cbus’ best financial interests duty: Deloitte

The independent review has slammed the Cbus board’s lack of compliance with the best financial interests duty test.

  • Updated
  • Michelle Bowes
The Cbus report is a shot across the bows of the super sector.

Super sector’s problems are much bigger than Cbus

The damning review of governance at CBUS shows while industry funds have led the way in gathering and growing assets, they now need to play governance catch-up.

  • James Thomson
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?

  • Hannah Wootton
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.

  • Hannah Wootton

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/company/cbus-jlc