Super Members Council modelling finds under-18s losing millions due to ‘outdated’ law

The peak body representing profit-to-member superannuation funds, the Super Members Council, said under-18s were excluded from guaranteed super unless they worked more than 30 hours a week for one employer.

The council said its analysis found about 156,000 teen workers will miss out on an average of $735 in super in 2026-27, adding up to $115 million across the state. It said the average teenage, part-time worker could miss out on $2,500 in super contributions by age 18, which could compound to $11,000 by retirement.

The Super Members Council found young workers in NSW would miss out on $105 million, out of a nationwide total of $411 million in missed super this financial year. Super Members Council chief executive Misha Schubert highlighted that figure was the highest of any state in Australia.

The council is now calling for the law to be scrapped and said it was “out of step with community expectations”. A push to reform the law is being led federally by the Greens, which introduced an amendment bill into parliament earlier this month; they have also secured a Senate inquiry on the issue, which will report to parliament in November.