Skip to main content
MENU
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • LOGIN
  • Subscribe
  • Topics
    • Alternatives
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Consultants
    • Defined Contribution
    • ESG
    • ETFs
    • Face to Face
    • Hedge Funds
    • Industry Voices
    • Investing
    • Money Management
    • Partner Content
    • Pension Funds
    • Private Equity
    • Real Estate
    • Regulation
    • SECURE 2.0
    • Special Reports
    • Washington
    • White Papers
  • Rankings & Awards
    • 1,000 Largest Retirement Plans
    • Top-Performing Managers
    • Largest Money Managers
    • DC Money Managers
    • DC Record Keepers
    • Largest Hedge Fund Managers
    • World's Largest Retirement Funds
    • Best Places to Work in Money Management
    • Excellence & Innovation Awards
    • WPS Innovation Awards
    • Influential Women in Institutional Investing 2023
    • Eddy Awards
  • ETFs
    • Latest ETF News
    • Fund Screener
    • Education Center
    • Equities
    • Fixed Income
    • Commodities
    • Actively Managed
    • Alternatives
    • ESG Rated
  • ESG
    • Latest ESG News
    • The Institutional Investor’s Guide to ESG Investing
    • ESG Sustainability - Gaining Momentum
    • ESG Investing | Industry Brief
    • Innovation in ESG Investing
    • 2023 ESG Investing Conference
    • ESG Rated ETFs
    • Divestment Database
  • Defined Contribution
    • Latest DC News
    • The Plan Sponsor's Guide to Retirement Income
    • DC Money Manager Rankings
    • DC Record Keeper Rankings
    • Innovations in DC
    • DC Plan Design: Improving Participant Outcomes
    • 2023 Defined Contribution East Conference
  • Searches & Hires
    • Latest Searches & Hires News
    • Searches & Hires Database
    • RFPs
  • Research Center
    • The P&I Research Center
    • Earnings Tracker
    • Endowment Returns Tracker
    • Corporate Pension Contribution Tracker
    • Pension Fund Returns Tracker
    • Pension Risk Transfer Database
  • Careers
  • Events
    • View All Conferences
    • View All Webinars
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Retirement Plans
December 06, 2019 11:21 AM

For Australia's super funds, being good does pay

Bloomberg
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Getty Images

    Responsible investing pays real dividends. That's the verdict of a survey released Friday by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia, which analyzed the returns of almost 60 of Australia's largest superannuation funds. It found the funds with comprehensive responsible investing policies returned about 1% more annually than their peers over one, three and five-year time frames.

    "This reinforces how important the consideration of environmental, social and corporate governance factors is to delivering the best possible outcomes for super fund members," RIAA Chief Executive Simon O'Connor said.

    Australia's superannuation industry — home to the world's fourth-largest retirement savings pool at A$2.9 trillion ($1.98 trillion) — has been shaking off its reputation as a sector that consists mainly of passive investors. Funds have been active in integrating more ESG factors into their portfolios as the harsh realities of climate change and corporate malpractice seize public attention.

    The changes have also led to a hiring spree — responsible investment employee numbers have doubled since 2018 and quadrupled since 2016, the survey found. And almost twice as many funds now report their responsible-investment activities compared to last year as members become more aware of ESG issues, the report said.

    That increased pressure from superannuation funds on companies they invest in has lead to behavioral shifts. There's been a ban on single-use plastic bags at supermarkets, mining companies have pledged to take more action on climate change and firms have appointed more female directors.

    Australia's biggest super funds recently helped force the early retirement of Westpac Banking Corp.'s Chairman Lindsay Maxsted and the resignation of CEO Brian Hartzer after the lender was accused of breaching anti-money laundering laws more than 23 million times.

    But more can be done. Of the 57 superannuation funds surveyed, which accounted for A$1.75 trillion in assets under management, just 13 articulated and demonstrated a comprehensive approach to responsible investment. Less than one-fifth systematically considered climate change at board meetings despite financial regulators viewing it as a foreseeable risk, the report found.

    "We are encouraged to see a doubling of super fund boards systematically considering climate risk," Mr. O'Connor said. "However, there's possibly still three-quarters of trustee boards inadequately accounting for climate risk in the face of increasing materiality, relevance and rising regulatory expectations."

    Related Articles
    Australia's retirement fund giants tell companies to act on climate, social change
    A 24-year-old is suing Rest Super for not being green enough
    ESG risks and influence on investment decisions growing – 2 studies
    Recommended for You
    Mine Super, TWUSUPER pick CEO for merged fund
    Photo of Fidelity's Dave Gray
    Industry-led auto-portability network ready
    Pedestrians_Street_i.jpg
    U.S. falls to 20th in Natixis retirement security index; Norway retains top spot
    AI in Investment Management: Separating Hype from Reality
    Sponsored Content: AI in Investment Management: Separating Hype from Reality
    Sponsored
    White Papers
    Exploring the Commercial Application of Artificial Intelligence
    Conflict Minerals: The human cost of our electronics
    Research for Institutional Money Management
    Private real estate entry points emerging amid selloff
    2023 Hot Topics in Retirement and Financial Wellbeing
    Bonds: Shaken, but Not Stirred
    View More
    Sponsored Content
    Partner Content
    The Industrialization of ESG Investment
    For institutional investors, ETFs can make meeting liquidity needs easier
    Gold: the most effective commodity investment
    2021 Investment Outlook | Investing Beyond the Pandemic: A Reset for Portfolios
    Ten ways retirement plan professionals add value to plan sponsors
    Gold: an efficient hedge
    View More
    E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS

    Sign up and get the best of News delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    Subscribe Today
    December 12, 2022 page one

    Get access to the news, research and analysis of events affecting the retirement and institutional money management businesses from a worldwide network of reporters and editors.

    Subscribe
    Connect With Us
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn

    Our Mission

    To consistently deliver news, research and analysis to the executives who manage the flow of funds in the institutional investment market.

    About Us

    Main Office
    685 Third Avenue
    Tenth Floor
    New York, NY 10017-4036

    Chicago Office
    130 E. Randolph St.
    Suite 3200
    Chicago, IL 60601

    Contact Us

    Careers at Crain

    About Pensions & Investments

     

    Advertising
    • Media Kit
    • P&I Custom Content
    • P&I Careers | Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    Resources
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • FAQ
    • P&I Research Center
    • Site map
    • Staff Directory
    Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Request
    Pensions & Investments
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • Topics
      • Alternatives
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Consultants
      • Defined Contribution
      • ESG
      • ETFs
      • Face to Face
      • Hedge Funds
      • Industry Voices
      • Investing
      • Money Management
      • Partner Content
      • Pension Funds
      • Private Equity
      • Real Estate
      • Regulation
      • SECURE 2.0
      • Special Reports
      • Washington
      • White Papers
    • Rankings & Awards
      • 1,000 Largest Retirement Plans
      • Top-Performing Managers
      • Largest Money Managers
      • DC Money Managers
      • DC Record Keepers
      • Largest Hedge Fund Managers
      • World's Largest Retirement Funds
      • Best Places to Work in Money Management
      • Excellence & Innovation Awards
      • WPS Innovation Awards
      • Influential Women in Institutional Investing 2023
      • Eddy Awards
    • ETFs
      • Latest ETF News
      • Fund Screener
      • Education Center
      • Equities
      • Fixed Income
      • Commodities
      • Actively Managed
      • Alternatives
      • ESG Rated
    • ESG
      • Latest ESG News
      • The Institutional Investor’s Guide to ESG Investing
      • ESG Sustainability - Gaining Momentum
      • ESG Investing | Industry Brief
      • Innovation in ESG Investing
      • 2023 ESG Investing Conference
      • ESG Rated ETFs
      • Divestment Database
    • Defined Contribution
      • Latest DC News
      • The Plan Sponsor's Guide to Retirement Income
      • DC Money Manager Rankings
      • DC Record Keeper Rankings
      • Innovations in DC
      • DC Plan Design: Improving Participant Outcomes
      • 2023 Defined Contribution East Conference
    • Searches & Hires
      • Latest Searches & Hires News
      • Searches & Hires Database
      • RFPs
    • Research Center
      • The P&I Research Center
      • Earnings Tracker
      • Endowment Returns Tracker
      • Corporate Pension Contribution Tracker
      • Pension Fund Returns Tracker
      • Pension Risk Transfer Database
    • Careers
    • Events
      • View All Conferences
      • View All Webinars