Super amnesty under fire at Senate hearing

Oct 30, 2019
Nine News
 

Letting bosses off the hook for unpaid superannuation through a one-off amnesty will reward bad behaviour, a Senate committee has heard.
Industry superannuation funds and unions have railed against legislation giving employers an amnesty for unpaid super since the system's inception 26 years ago.
The measure is expected to recover $160 million in unpaid retirement savings, with 7000 employers already coming forward and the same amount expected to own up once the bill passes.
Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, which represents industry, corporate and government funds, and Industry Super Australia are both against the bill.
AIST head of advocacy Melissa Birks said the amnesty would send the wrong message to good employers who won't be rewarded for doing the right thing.
"Poor employers, who have perhaps held that cash back and used it for other purposes, are being rewarded by allowing this amnesty to occur," she told the committee.
"That level playing field is one of our major concerns. It creates a situation where you're rewarding bad employers and punishing good ones."


Australian Council of Trade Unions assistant secretary Scott Connolly said it was a "leave pass" for employers that had done the wrong thing.
"The message that this bill sends is that it's OK not to obey the law in this country and I think that's an appalling situation for our legislature to be in," he said.
Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia deputy chief executive Glen McCrea said on balance the peak industry body supported the amnesty.
"Getting employees the money owned to them will mean higher super balances, additional investment returns and a better retirement for Australians," he said.
"It is essential that this issue of a one-off amnesty is resolved once and for all before Christmas to provide certainty to all involved."
Industry Super Australia head of research and campaigns Nick Coates said the International Monetary Fund found amnesties only worked when combined with laws targeting non-compliance.
"We believe the evidence on amnesties is at best mixed and may struggle to successfully redress the misconduct or recover the monies that is owed to workers," he said.
ISA estimates there's almost $6 billion in superannuation entitlements not being paid to Australians every year.
Deputy small business ombudsman Craig Latham said squaring up unpaid superannuation would have two major effects.
"First and foremost it's about getting the employees entitlements paid and then also having businesses compete on a level playing field," he said.

Why not let employees have an amnesty for ripping of employers every couple of decades....An employee could tell the Government he has been ripping off his company for 20 years and the boss has to accept it....Sounds ridiculous when the shoe is on the other foot doesn't it....What a bunch of ass holes this Coalition Government are!!!

>:( >:( >:(

in the past days  Woolworths have admitted not paying their staff correctly  something to the tune of $300 million... ::) ::) its eye popping...

ok so during that time wouldnt their super have been receiving less as well????..

they claim back pay will be paid but what about their under funded superfunds??

cods wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 9:41am:

in the past days  Woolworths have admitted not paying their staff correctly  something to the tune of $300 million... ::) ::) its eye popping... ok so during that time wouldnt their super have been receiving less as well????.. they claim back pay will be paid but what about their under funded superfunds??

That would depend on the nature of the underpayments. Overtime and penalty rates for instance is not always included in the SG calculation, only under some conditions.

crocodile wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 10:33am:

cods wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 9:41am: in the past days  Woolworths have admitted not paying their staff correctly  something to the tune of $300 million... ::) ::) its eye popping... ok so during that time wouldnt their super have been receiving less as well????.. they claim back pay will be paid but what about their under funded superfunds?? That would depend on the nature of the underpayments. Overtime and penalty rates for instance is not always included in the SG calculation, only under some conditions.

However Woolworth's have admitted underpaying staff so your point is bullshit....Why would anyone try (unsuccessfully) to excuse this behavior???

::) ::) ::)

philperth2010 wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 11:09am:

crocodile wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 10:33am: cods wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 9:41am: in the past days  Woolworths have admitted not paying their staff correctly  something to the tune of $300 million... ::) ::) its eye popping... ok so during that time wouldnt their super have been receiving less as well????.. they claim back pay will be paid but what about their under funded superfunds?? That would depend on the nature of the underpayments. Overtime and penalty rates for instance is not always included in the SG calculation, only under some conditions. However Woolworth's have admitted underpaying staff so your point is bullshit....Why would anyone try (unsuccessfully) to excuse this behavior??? ::) ::) ::)

Pretty sure I saw in the article that they are also fixing the super

Spot

Any employer who has stolen money
from an employee should be hanged.

Hang em and hang em high
with a sign around their neck saying
THIEF

philperth2010 wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 11:09am:

crocodile wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 10:33am: cods wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 9:41am: in the past days  Woolworths have admitted not paying their staff correctly  something to the tune of $300 million... ::) ::) its eye popping... ok so during that time wouldnt their super have been receiving less as well????.. they claim back pay will be paid but what about their under funded superfunds?? That would depend on the nature of the underpayments. Overtime and penalty rates for instance is not always included in the SG calculation, only under some conditions. However Woolworth's have admitted underpaying staff so your point is bullshit....Why would anyone try (unsuccessfully) to excuse this behavior??? ::) ::) ::)

Who excused this behaviour you imperious idiot. How is the point bullshit. Nobody suggested that Woolies didn't underpay anybody. The point regarding super payments was raised which I answered correctly. Now fukk off dipstick.

Bobby. wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 11:19am:

Any employer who has stolen money from an employee should be hanged. Hang em and hang em high with a sign around their neck saying THIEF

That would be fine if the same rule applied to employees that steal from employers.

crocodile wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 11:22am:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 11:19am: Any employer who has stolen money from an employee should be hanged. Hang em and hang em high with a sign around their neck saying THIEF That would be fine if the same rule applied to employees that steal from employers.

It should apply to all cases of enormous theft.

crocodile wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 11:21am:

philperth2010 wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 11:09am: crocodile wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 10:33am: cods wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 9:41am: in the past days  Woolworths have admitted not paying their staff correctly  something to the tune of $300 million... ::) ::) its eye popping... ok so during that time wouldnt their super have been receiving less as well????.. they claim back pay will be paid but what about their under funded superfunds?? That would depend on the nature of the underpayments. Overtime and penalty rates for instance is not always included in the SG calculation, only under some conditions. However Woolworth's have admitted underpaying staff so your point is bullshit....Why would anyone try (unsuccessfully) to excuse this behavior??? ::) ::) ::) Who excused this behaviour you imperious idiot. How is the point bullshit. Nobody suggested that Woolies didn't underpay anybody. The point regarding super payments was raised which I answered correctly. Now fukk off dipstick.

Your rant had nothing to do with Woolies underpayment so why raise it dickhead....Making excuses where none exist hey ass wipe!!!

::) ::) ::)

crocodile wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 11:22am:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 11:19am: Any employer who has stolen money from an employee should be hanged. Hang em and hang em high with a sign around their neck saying THIEF That would be fine if the same rule applied to employees that steal from employers.

Employees would be sacked and have their reputation tarnished....Employers get a free ride from this Government and are excused for making an honest mistake....Geez you are a dickhead!!!

::) ::) ::)

philperth2010 wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 12:14pm:

crocodile wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 11:21am: philperth2010 wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 11:09am: crocodile wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 10:33am: cods wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 9:41am: in the past days  Woolworths have admitted not paying their staff correctly  something to the tune of $300 million... ::) ::) its eye popping... ok so during that time wouldnt their super have been receiving less as well????.. they claim back pay will be paid but what about their under funded superfunds?? That would depend on the nature of the underpayments. Overtime and penalty rates for instance is not always included in the SG calculation, only under some conditions. However Woolworth's have admitted underpaying staff so your point is bullshit....Why would anyone try (unsuccessfully) to excuse this behavior??? ::) ::) ::) Who excused this behaviour you imperious idiot. How is the point bullshit. Nobody suggested that Woolies didn't underpay anybody. The point regarding super payments was raised which I answered correctly. Now fukk off dipstick. Your rant had nothing to do with Woolies underpayment so why raise it dickhead....Making excuses where none exist hey ass wipe!!! ::) ::) ::)

Go to Spec Savers. Cods raised the point, not me. I answered it truthfully and according to the law. You are a true wanker of worldly proportions. Now fukk off and play with your toy train set.

philperth2010 wrote on Oct 31^st, 2019 at 12:16pm:

crocodile wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 11:22am: Bobby. wrote on Oct 31st, 2019 at 11:19am: Any employer who has stolen money from an employee should be hanged. Hang em and hang em high with a sign around their neck saying THIEF That would be fine if the same rule applied to employees that steal from employers. Employees would be sacked and have their reputation tarnished....Employers get a free ride from this Government and are excused for making an honest mistake....Geez you are a dickhead!!! ::) ::) ::)

Not true and not always. It gets expensive to keep firing people and training new ones. Sacking an employee doesn't guarantee that the theft will be repaid. Can't believe this imbecile.

The award regulations are so complicated it is easy to misinterpret them. As Woollies did.