Super fund managers could be forced to disclose how much they earn as part of a push by the Greens to boost transparency in the $1.5 trillion superannuation industry.
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Last year, the Gillard government passed legislation that mandated super fund directors and executives disclosed their remuneration. But the Greens are concerned that super fund managers - who determine the investment strategy - continue to be exempt.
Greens leader Christine Milne said there was no accountability around fund managers, whose estimated earnings range from $500,000 to several million dollars a year.
''These fund managers are no doubt getting paid very large amounts to manage the people's superannuation, but there is no accountability in terms of the community knowing how much they earn and then comparing that with the performance of the funds,'' Senator Milne said.
Last month AustralianSuper chief executive Ian Silk criticised the level of remuneration in the superannuation industry, describing it as ''manifestly excessive.''
Senator Milne said the Greens would seek to amend superannuation laws when Parliament returned for the budget sitting. She was hopeful the government - which on Friday announced changes to the contributions system for high earners - would support the move.
Alex Dunnin, research director at superannuation research firm Rainmaker, said there was an issue with super funds not revealing enough information about themselves, adding that $130 billion flowed into the industry last year on the back of compulsory contributions.
On Saturday, the government and Coalition traded barbs over Labor's plan to increase the cap on concessional super contributions from $25,000 to $35,000. This would apply from July 1 this year for people aged 60 and over.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the government had broken a promise because it had scrapped its plan to raise the cap to $50,000 in last year's budget.
''We should not allow the fact that they are promising a rise to obscure the fact that they are also breaking a promise,'' he said.
Superannuation Minister Bill Shorten said 160,000 people would be worse off under an Abbott government because Mr Abbott was not supporting the concessional cap move.
''I have no idea why Mr Abbott is so negative,'' he said.
