Senators spar over industry super funds

Liberal senator Jane Hume says one only have to look at the car parks of super industry funds to see they are not charities.

A federal Labor frontbencher has been reminded industry super funds are not charities during a lively exchange at a parliamentary hearing.

"If you go into the car park of an industry super fund there are an awful lot of BMW X5s owned by senior execs," Liberal senator Jane Hume told Labor's financial services spokeswoman Katy Gallagher.

The MPs were squaring off during a Senate estimates hearing to question officials from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.