A global dialogue about the role of superannuation investing in infrastructure projects was a key message to come out of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) Investment Interchange.
As governments around the world increasingly turned to the private sector to fund infrastructure, now was an opportune time to break the impasse and create a pathway to facilitate this investment, ASFA director of investments Gordon Noble said at the event last week.
“One of the key challenges the investment community faces globally is its all-too-often passive culture,” Noble said.
“With super funds showing more interest than ever before in investing in infrastructure projects and governments increasingly willing to let the private sector step in, now is the time to start a dialogue about how this can be modelled in a way that delivers the best outcomes for fund members.”
Also backing the need for global talks about superannuation investing in infrastructure was SMART Infrastructure Facility Advisory Council Ken Henry, who has called on the government to develop a national approach.
“What will it take in order for Australia to develop a robust, long term pipeline of infrastructure projects?” Henry said.
AustralianSuper and Australian Securities Exchange board member Heather Ridout called on the industry to take a more active role in helping the government to develop a pipeline for transfer-ready projects.
“Industry and government has to stop talking and actually do something about it,” Ridout said.
“There is a very serious conversation to be had so make your voices heard.”
SMART chief executive Garry Bowditch also attended ASFA’s Investment Interchange and supported the industry’s active participation in conversations with the government about the future of Australia’s infrastructure investment.
