QSuper was established by the QSuper Act 1990 to provide benefits for current and previous Queensland public sector employees and employees of Queensland Government entities, such as departments, statutory bodies and government owned enterprises. The Fund consists of Defined Benefit, Accumulation and Income accounts. The Defined Benefit account was closed to new members from 12 November 2008. On 13 April 2017, the QSuper’s Board RSE licence was varied from non-public offer to Public offer.
Accumulation member (including Public Offer)
Our QSuper Accumulation account is designed for prospective members and employers (Public offer members) and current and former Queensland Government employees and their spouses. With an Accumulation account, members can take an active role in how their superannuation is invested by choosing from ten different investment options ranging from higher risk/higher return to lower risk/lower return. If members don’t choose how they want their money invested, we place them into our default option, QSuper Lifetime. QSuper members who don’t work for the Queensland Government have the option for their employer to make their superannuation contributions into their Accumulation account on their behalf.
For these members, QSuper complies with the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) (SIS) and APRA Prudential Standards in a manner consistent with other public offer superannuation funds. In particular the SIS requirements relating to Portability (including Trans-Tasman) and Temporary Residents Permanently Departing Australia.
Income Account (including Transition to Retirement) members
Our Income account is an account-based pension product that allows members to use their superannuation funds to provide an income in retirement. The pension is paid until the Income account balance is exhausted. The transition to retirement option allows eligible members to open an Income account and draw an income stream while they’re still working.
For these members, QSuper complies with the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) and APRA Prudential Standards in a manner consistent with other public offer superannuation funds.
Defined Benefit Products (Closed products)
Current members with a Defined Benefit account are able to maintain their existing benefits until they decide to retire, transfer to an Accumulation account or leave their current employment. The Defined Benefit account was closed to new members from 12 November 2008. These defined benefit products are funded separately. Public Offer members will not be acquiring an interest in a defined benefit product.
Defined Benefit Arrangements
Due to the following arrangements, QSuper is technically classified as an unfunded public sector superannuation scheme. Employing authorities are required to remit Defined Benefit employer contributions (excluding salary sacrifice contributions) to Queensland Treasury. These contributions are accumulated in a reserve, managed by the Queensland Treasury Corporation on behalf of the Queensland Government (‘Employer Fund’), which is maintained to finance the State’s future liability for the employer component of all defined benefits. The Queensland Treasurer, on advice from the State Actuary, determines the rate of employer contributions. As defined benefits become payable, the full cost is met by QSuper, with the Employer Fund contributing the employer’s share of these benefits. This split funding arrangement is the reason for the difference between net assets available to pay benefits, per the Statement of changes in net assets and the value of accrued benefits and vested benefits as at the respective measurement dates.