Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2018L00825 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by authority of the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services

Subject -  Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993

Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018

The Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 establishes the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal.

Section 68 of the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters required or permitted by the Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.

The purpose of the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018 (the proposed Regulations) is to remake the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 1994 (the former Regulations). The Legislation Act 2003 provides that all legislative instruments, other than exempt instruments, progressively ‘sunset’ according to the timetable set out in the Legislation Act 2003. Legislative instruments registered on the Federal Register of Legislation (previously known as the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments) on 1 January 2005, such as the former Regulations, sunset on 1 October 2018. When a legislative instrument sunsets, it is automatically repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003.

The Regulations remake the former Regulations with minor formatting changes to bring the provisions into line with current drafting conventions.

Details of the Regulations are set out in the Attachment.

The Act specifies no conditions that need to be satisfied before the power to make the Regulations may be exercised.

An exposure draft of the Regulations was not released for public consultation as the Regulations do not make any substantive changes to the former Regulations.

No Regulations Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared because under the Office of Best Practice Regulation guidelines no RIS is required if the remade Regulations do not make significant changes to the former regulations.

The Regulations are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.

The Regulations commenced on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Authority:  Section 68 of the

Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018

The Regulations are 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 of the Regulations

The purpose of the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations) is to remake the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 1994 (the former Regulations). The Legislation Act 2003 provides that all legislative instruments, other than exempt instruments, progressively ‘sunset’ according to the timetable set out in the Legislation Act 2003. Legislative instruments registered on the Federal Register of Legislation (previously known as the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments) on 1 January 2005, such as the former Regulations, sunset on 1 October 2018. When a legislative instrument sunsets, it is automatically repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003.

The Regulations remake the former Regulations with minor formatting changes to bring the provisions into line with current drafting conventions.

Human rights implications

The Regulations do not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

The Regulations are compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT

Details of the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018

All references are to the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations) unless otherwise stated. The Regulations make improvements to the former Regulations by reformatting and restructuring provisions to take account of modern instrument drafting techniques such as the greater use of tables. The Regulations also simplify and update language in accordance with standard drafting practices.

Section 1 - Name of Regulations

This section provides that the title of the Regulations is the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018.

Section 2 - Commencement

This section provides for the Regulations to commence the day after registration.

Section 3 - Authority

This section provides that the Regulations are made under the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993.

Section 4 - Schedule(s)

This section provides that each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Section 5 – Definitions

This section remakes the interpretation section of the former Regulations (former regulation 3).

Section 6 - Exempt public sector superannuation schemes taken to be regulated super funds

This section remakes regulation 4A and Schedule 1 of the former Regulations. The provisions have been restructured into a table format to reflect modern instrument drafting techniques.

Section 7 - Persons to be treated as beneficiaries, members etc

This section remakes former regulation 4B, with minor formatting changes and updated language.

 

 

Section 8 - Payment of death benefits—period for objections and complaints

This section remakes former regulation 5, restructuring the provision to improve readability as well as making minor formatting changes.

Section 9 - Statement of amount or amounts in respect of person’s contributed amounts—period to make complaint

This section remakes former regulation 5A, with minor formatting changes.

Section 10 - Complaint handling bodies

This section ensures that amendments made to the former Regulations by the Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Consumers First—Establishment of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority) Regulations 2018 (the AFCA regulations) apply at the times set out in the AFCA regulations. That is, this section ensures that the transitional application rules included in the AFCA regulations are still effective following the remaking of the Regulations.

Section 11 - Method of calculation of interest

This section remakes former regulation 7, with minor formatting changes and updated language.

Schedule 1—Repeals

This section repeals the former Regulations.

Overview

The Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 was enacted to establish the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal, which is tasked with resolving disputes in the superannuation sector. This legislation was introduced to address issues and complaints that arise within the superannuation industry, ensuring that there is a formal mechanism for resolving such matters. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of Australia, with the intent of providing a dedicated body for the adjudication of superannuation-related complaints. The Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018 were subsequently introduced to remake the earlier Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 1994, updating the regulatory framework to align with contemporary drafting conventions and to ensure the continued effectiveness and relevance of the legislation. These Regulations were made under the authority of Section 68 of the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993, and they do not introduce substantive changes, instead focusing on minor formatting and language updates.

Scope and Application

The Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 applies to the establishment and operation of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal, which is tasked with resolving complaints relating to superannuation. This Act applies to individuals and entities involved in superannuation arrangements, including trustees, members, and beneficiaries, as well as to the conduct and transactions within the superannuation industry. Its jurisdictional reach extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring uniform regulation and resolution processes for superannuation-related disputes nationwide. The Act allows for the creation of regulations to specify procedural and operational details necessary for its effective implementation, as evidenced by the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018, which remade the 1994 regulations to align with contemporary drafting standards. There are no stated exclusions or thresholds within the Act itself, but the scope of its application is further defined and potentially extended through subordinate instruments such as the 2018 Regulations, which maintain the essence of the previous regulations while updating their format and language.

Key Provisions

The Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations) are made under the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 (the Act) and serve to remake the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 1994 (the former Regulations). The purpose of the Regulations is to bring the former Regulations into line with modern drafting conventions, including the use of tables and updated language. These changes are primarily formatting and stylistic, ensuring that the provisions remain current and easier to understand. Section 1 of the Regulations states the title, Section 2 provides the commencement date, and Section 3 cites the authority under the Act. The Regulations impose specific obligations and requirements on the parties governed by the Act, such as the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal. These include updated definitions (Section 5), restructuring of provisions like those relating to exempt public sector superannuation schemes (Section 6) and complaint handling bodies (Section 10). The Regulations also stipulate periods for making objections and complaints about death benefits (Section 8) and statements regarding contributed amounts (Section 9). These provisions ensure clarity and consistency in the administration of superannuation complaints. The Regulations do not introduce new offences or penalties; however, any breaches of the provisions under the Act would be subject to the penalties specified therein. For example, the Act may include penalties for non-compliance with requirements to submit complaints within specified timeframes or to provide necessary documentation. Although the Regulations themselves do not outline specific penalties, the Act provides the legal framework within which any breaches would be addressed, including potential civil or administrative actions. In conclusion, the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Regulations 2018 primarily aim to update and reformat the former Regulations to align with modern drafting practices. They impose specific obligations on governed parties to ensure compliance with the Act and maintain the integrity of the superannuation complaint resolution process. While the Regulations do not introduce new penalties, they reinforce the existing framework for handling breaches.

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Area of Law
Consumer Law
Financial Regulation
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Regulatory Standards

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.