Barbara Pocock (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Australia's superannuation system was designed to be universal, but the vast majority of our young workers under the age of 18 are not entitled to superannuation on their hard-earned income. That's because they don't work 30 hours or more a week. Under the current law, workers under 18 years old are only entitled to super if they work more than 30 hours a week for the same employer. This means that 92 per cent—almost all of our young workers—miss out on super, mostly due to school and study commitments. It's incredibly unfair. They're leading busy lives and putting together school and lots of work opportunities, often very variable and unpredictable, and we don't give them the super they deserve. Young people shouldn't be penalised for their studying and school hours. For too long workers under 18 have been missing out on super, setting them back financially and costing them thousands of dollars very early in their careers. We know how important those dollars are later in life. It should not be controversial to say that young workers should receive the same financial rights as everyone else. Super should be paid to every worker on every dollar earned. This exclusion has a real impact. According to the Super Members Council, about 500,000 under-18 workers will be excluded from paid super in 2024-25—half a million of them. This is a combined total of $368 million in super contributions. There's no excuse for excluding young workers from accessing the super system and having the same rights and access as all other workers.

The change we propose is small, it is sensible and it will make a really big difference for thousands of young Australians starting out their working lives. I've heard directly from young South Australians about how important getting super would be for them. Kisa, a 16-year-old, said this: 'I can't always work 30 hours a week as I have school. I don't think this should mean I don't get to start preparing for my future with my superannuation fund.' Alyssa, also 16, said, 'I work just as hard as everyone else and I'm not getting the same benefits to put towards my retirement.' Jackson, an 18-year-old, said, 'I'm going to struggle a lot more in the future as I've had three years of part-time work that hasn't contributed to my super.' And Charlie, who's 15, said: 'Being young and starting to earn money towards my super will be a good start and will put me better off in my future. I also don't understand why it's different for kids under 18 as we are doing the same job.'

Thank you, Kisa, Alyssa, Jackson and Charlie for your stories. You are spot on and you're young people with a lot of foresight. I certainly wasn't thinking about my retirement at 16, 17 and 18. But you're spot on. You're missing out on a lot and you're working in the same way as others, alongside them, and you deserve the same rights. These are real workers who are feeling the impacts of our current unfair super system. That's why we have moved our amendment to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025 to make sure that young part-time workers aren't left behind. Labor has a chance to back young workers so that all of them are paid super contributions from their employers regardless of their hours. This amendment ensures that any regulations made under the act cannot exclude workers who are under 18 and are doing fewer than 30 hours from getting superannuation.

In conclusion, I call on Labor to support our amendment to give those young people access to super while they're young and under 18. Labor, what would hold you back from doing such an obvious change that's so fair? You've got the numbers to do this, and this has been a long-running campaign of the SDA and the Super Members Council, who are two strong stakeholders advocating this change. Your own 2023 national platform supports this. Allow me to quote from it:

Labor will support young people through … the accumulation of superannuation on every dollar earned.

Your own platform also says:

Labor will … examine gaps in the superannuation system and where possible close these gaps for … young workers …

Finally, your platform also says:

Labor will ensure that all workers, regardless of how they are engaged, can accumulate superannuation on every dollar earned.

Here's your opportunity. Labor, it is time for you to walk the talk as a party that speaks for the workers. It's time for you to take action for these young people who are waiting, watching and wondering what you're going to do.

Minister, I've got a few questions. As I understand it, this bill includes changes that will repeal section 28, which is the outdated and unfair part of the law that says part-time workers under 18 are not required to be paid super.