Superannuation (prudential standard) determination No. 2 of 2012
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Prepared by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993, section 34C(1)
Under subsection 34C(1) of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (the Act), APRA has the power to determine standards (prudential standards), in writing, in relation to prudential matters to be complied with by all RSE licensees of registrable superannuation entities (RSEs).
On 15 November 2012, APRA made Superannuation (prudential standard) determination No. 2 of 2012 under subsection 34C(1) of the Act (the instrument).
The instrument commences on 1 July 2013.
- Background
The Government indicated, in its response to the recommendations of the Super System Review in December 2010, support for the recommendation that APRA be given the power to make prudential standards in respect of superannuation, consistent with APRA’s existing powers in respect of banking and insurance.[1] The Government also expressed its support for APRA determining a prudential standard on risk management to take the place of existing legislative risk management requirements in the Act relating to risk management strategies.[2]
In April 2012, APRA released 11 draft prudential standards to implement APRA’s proposed prudential framework for superannuation, incorporating those elements of the Government’s superannuation reforms that come within APRA’s mandate. APRA’s proposals covered prudential requirements common to other APRA-regulated industries as well as superannuation-specific requirements. The proposals also included relocating some current requirements in the Act and Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994 and non-binding guidance material into the new prudential standards, and harmonising the requirements for superannuation with those applying to other APRA-regulated industries to the extent practical.
APRA was granted the ability to make prudential standards in relation to superannuation under the Act by the passage of the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Obligations and Prudential Standards) Act 2012 on 8 September 2012.
2. Purpose and operation of the instrument
The purpose of the instrument is to make Prudential Standard SPS 220 Risk Management (SPS 220), which sets out prudential requirements for an RSE licensee to have systems for identifying, assessing, managing, mitigating and monitoring material risks that may affect its ability to meet its obligations to beneficiaries.
The key requirements of SPS 220 are that an RSE licensee must:
- have a Board-approved risk management framework that is appropriate to the size, business mix and complexity of the RSE licensee’s business operations, and which is aligned with the RSE licensee’s business plan;
- have a written business plan that sets out the high-level strategic direction on the RSE licensee’s approach to managing its business operations;
- maintain a Board-approved risk appetite statement;
- maintain a Board-approved risk management strategy that describes the key elements of the risk management framework that give effect to the RSE licensee’s strategy for managing risk;
- notify APRA when the RSE licensee becomes aware of a significant breach of, or material deviation from, the risk management framework, or discovers that the risk management framework does not adequately address a material risk; and
- maintain adequate technical, human and financial resources at a level that is adequate for the RSE licensee’s business operations.
3. Consultation
In September 2011, APRA released for public consultation a discussion paper, Prudential Standards for Superannuation, which outlined proposals, including those Stronger Super reforms that the Government had recommended APRA implement in prudential standards. A suite of 12 prudential standards, including a standard dealing with risk management, was described in the paper. APRA received 41 written submissions in response to this discussion paper, presented the reforms via a wide range of industry forums and held discussions with a variety of industry participants.
In a second consultation round, APRA released a Response to Submissions – Prudential standards for superannuation and a package of 11 draft prudential standards on 27 April 2012. In the response, APRA outlined the significant issues raised in the submissions and APRA’s proposed response to them.
APRA received 38 written submissions in response to the draft prudential standards; again, APRA also presented the reforms at industry forums and met with individual industry participants on the proposed requirements.
APRA took note of the issues raised in submissions on the draft standard and the final version of SPS 220 includes amendments to allow some flexibility for an RSE licensee to set its business plan outside of a three-year planning cycle, particularly where there is an annual review process, as long as the planning cycle does not exceed five years.
4. Regulation Impact Statement
A Regulation Impact Statement is required for the superannuation prudential standards.
5. Statement of compatibility prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
The legislative instrument the subject of this explanatory statement does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011. Accordingly, in APRA’s assessment, this legislative instrument is compatible with human rights.
[1] Stronger Super, Recommendation 10.2, p. 60.
[2] Refer also to the Explanatory Memorandum to Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Obligations and Prudential Standards) Act 2012, p. 29.