Labor pushes unpaid superannuation crackdown   
Labor has unveiled tweaks to the super system that could allow Australians to retire with tens of thousands more. But not everyone is on board.

News.com.au
October 9, 2025

The average Australian’s superannuation balance could be tens of thousands better off under proposed new laws cracking down on unpaid super, according to the Albanese government.   

Jim Chalmers on Thursday introduced two Bills that, if passed, would force employers to make super contributions within seven days of paying employees. 

“Payday super”, as dubbed by the Albanese government, would slash the amount of unpaid super, which the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) put at $5.2bn for the last fiscal year.

Spruiking the changes in a statement, the Treasurer said they would “strengthen Australia’s superannuation system and help deliver a more secure retirement to more Australian workers”.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has introduced legislation tweaking super laws.

“Employees will benefit from more frequent and earlier super contributions that will grow and compound over their working life,” he said.

“For the average 25-year-old workers’ retirement balance, this is the equivalent of receiving an extra $6000 in today’s dollars.

“If a worker is missing out on their super the impact is even more significant.

“In a typical unpaid super case for a 35-year-old, recovering their super leaves their retirement balance more than $30,000 better off in today’s dollars.”

Mr Chalmers added “vulnerable Australians and women” were disproportionately affected by unpaid super.


Under the changes, employers must make sure super contributions are paid into a staff member’s super fund within seven business days of payday.

Failure to do so would violate the super guarantee.

The changes would also help the ATO pick up on employers not making contributions, according to the government.

Labor says Australians could be $30,000 better off under the laws.

While the legislation has been broadly welcomed, not all are fully on board.

CPA Australia, the country’s accounting peak body, said it had concerns about how the changes would be implemented.

It also warned they could slap further pressure on small businesses with constricted cashflows.

“Some small businesses will face significant cashflow challenges as they adjust to the new regime,” superannuation lead Richard Web said.

“This may be another compliance headache that many small businesses will struggle to cope with in such a short space of time.

“We are pleased that the government has heard our calls for more proportionate penalties for small businesses who fail to immediately comply with the new rules.

“We welcome the assisted compliance period contained in the draft guidance released today by the ATO but note that it is not the same as if the Bill formally allowed businesses time to adjust.”

If passed, the new laws would kick in from July 1, 2026.

Carl D wrote on Oct 10^th, 2025 at 7:48am:



The politicians are the most highly paid dole bludgers in the world -
and they don't even have to line up at Centrelink to get it.