The changes announced on Tuesday night focus on ensuring all of last year's budget changes to super are still implemented, supporting older Australians by allowing voluntary contributions for 65 and 66 year olds and providing additional resources to the regulators and court rooms (following the royal commission).

In what seems like a ground-hog-day for the 2018 budget, the government is digging its heels in on not forcing members under age 25 or with balances below $6,000 to pay insurance premiums. Under the proposal, insurance within superannuation will only be offered on an opt-in basis for these members.

Instead of having this effective 1 July, as was intended in last year's budget, this will be delayed to 1 October 2019. Funds only have 6 months to implement this if the budget is passed, after this aspect of the 2018 budget was rejected in the upper house.

But why shouldn't the government be concerned about young people being ripped off? Insurance in superannuation is costing young people hundreds of dollars at the expense of otherwise watching their balances grow. Research by Rainmaker shows that the median cost for default insurance for those with balances under $6,000 costs over $220 a year. That's a lot of money if you have a low balance and little chance of ever making a claim.

The budget is proposing to help new or soon-to-be retirees. The Government will allow voluntary superannuation contributions (both concessional and non-concessional) to be made by those aged 65 and 66 without meeting the work test from 1 July 2020. They will also be able to make up to three years of non-concessional contributions under the bring-forward rule. And for those up to and including age 74 will be able to receive spouse contributions.

Superannuation will get a lot more litigious. There will be additional resources for federal courts, ASIC and APRA following the royal commission. More than $550 million in additional funding will be provided to ASIC and APRA and $44 million to federal courts to support more judges and court rooms to hear financial misconduct cases.

If you are running an underperforming super fund you have been placed on notice. APRA will be provided with $70 million to focus on underperforming funds and compliance with the 'best interests' duty. APRA is to deliver on its expanded mandate as primary superannuation conduct regulator, including a focus on underperforming funds and compliance with the 'best interests' duty.

Furthermore, more super funds could merge, especially underperforming ones, following the announcement that previously temporary tax relief measures will become permanent. These measures include rolling over previous losses into the new funds.

Superannuation Complaints are in the spotlight with support for the completion of casework in the tribunal. The Government will provide an additional $2.3 million over three years from 2020-21 to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT). But the Superannuation Consumer Advocate will receive just $100,000 to undertake an expression of interest process to identify options to support the formal establishment of a Superannuation Consumer Advocate.

Lastly, as an administrative improvement SuperStream Rollover standard will improve to allow including superannuation release authorities in electronic rollover.

In summary the changes proposed in the budget will focus on supporting the elderly, young people and on implementing the recommendations from the royal commission. Every year when there are major changes such as those made as part of Stronger Super and Simply Super, the industry complains about the costs of implementing the changes. The relief for super funds is that this year the changes are the lightest they have been for years.