Skip to content
Finance Investment, Political

Unfair super law costs young Queensland workers $10,000

Industry Super Australia 2 mins read

A discriminatory legal relic that largely denies Queensland’s under-18-year-olds super contributions could ultimately cost them more than $10,000 at retirement, new research reveals.

About 87,000 of Queensland’s youngest workers are locked out of the nation’s world class retirement system because they are not entitled to compulsory super contributions, unless they work more than 30 hours a week for the same employer.

New Industry Super Australia (ISA) modelling finds that this law could cost the state’s youngest workers about $90 million in super contributions annually.

If these Queensland workers were eligible for the super guarantee they would receive an average of $1,035 a year. If invested in a super fund these small contributions could grow to $10,2000 by the time a teen worker retires.

ISA’s Super Start to Work Report reveals the 30 hours per week super threshold denies 375,000 Australian teen workers super payments, costing them a total of $330 million a year. 

This early career discrimination not only financially penalises young workers it creates an administrative burden for employers who must keep track of the hours under-18s work. An especially complex task as under-18 workers are highly casualised and many of their employers pay super quarterly.

Most under-18-year-old workers are denied super contributions most weeks, as more than 90% of teenagers usually work less than 30 hours per week and are therefore not entitled to super. But paid work is a constant for most teen workers, with 75% of the underage workforce employed for 6-12 months a year.

When super was introduced in 1992 excluding under-18s was negotiated into the legislation because it was feared fees and insurance would erode smaller super balances.  

But now fees are capped on lower account balances and insurance is not automatically offered to super members who are under-25 and have a balance of less than $6,000.

Removing the 30-hour threshold would also promote engagement with the super system at an earlier age.

A UMR survey of 1075 people found that there is near universal support for the payment of super for all workers – with 85% of respondents agreeing with the principle that super should be paid to all workers.

Comments attributable to Industry Super Australia Chief Executive Bernie Dean:

“This is an out-of-date law that discriminates against Queensland’s youngest workers just as they’re starting out – it’s unfair and the law needs to be modernised.”    

“Locking thousands of the state’s young workers out of our world class retirement savings system is not giving them the super start to work they deserve. How can we explain that young workers don’t get super while an older colleague doing the same job does?”

“Removing the 30-hour threshold wouldn’t just be fair for young workers, it would be good for the employers who have to face the administrative nightmare of keeping track of the weekly hours of a highly casual workforce.”


Contact details:

James Dowling: 0429 437 851, [email protected]

Media

More from this category

  • National News Current Affairs, Political
  • 15/06/2025
  • 10:00
Monash University

Expert Comment: No Kings Day Protests in the United States

Monash University Expert: The No Kings Day Protests in the United States – Why Trump Doesn’t Want to Be King Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to protest Donald Trump’s Presidency at No King’s Day gathering across the US this weekend. Associate Professor Ben Wellings explains that, while Trump doesn’t really want to be King, his path to autocracy, via chaos like calling the National Guard to quell the Los Angeles anti-immigration protests, is actually a highly strategic plan. Available to comment: Associate Professor Ben Wellingsis from Politics and International Relations at Monash University Contact: +61 421 470181 or…

  • Finance Investment
  • 13/06/2025
  • 23:41
Monsha'at

Saudi Arabia Showcases Potential Unicorns at VivaTech Paris, Highlighting the Kingdom’s Growing Innovation Power

PARIS, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Monsha'at, Saudi Arabia's Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, led a group of five potential Saudi unicorns SMEs to participate in VivaTech 2025, Europe’s leading technology and innovation exhibition. Its participation was part of Saudi Unicorns; a Saudi Vision 2030 initiative to help high-potential, fast-growing companies in promising sectors reach valuations of over $1 billion.Held in Paris from June 11-14, the four-day innovation-focused event featured 13,500 startups, 3,200 investors, and over 165,000 attendees.Now in its ninth year, the conference was a key opportunity for Monsha’at to expose high-potential Saudi startups to global best…

  • Finance Investment
  • 13/06/2025
  • 20:41
Bitget Limited

Bitget’s May Report Highlights 21% increase in Futures Trading Volume Accelerating it to top #3 exchange

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its May 2025 Transparency Report, highlighting growth in trading activity, product innovation, global expansion, and social impact despite a consolidating crypto market.In May, the total crypto market cap fluctuated from a high of $3.6 trillion to close at $3.28 trillion, with daily trading volume averaging $84.44 billion. Despite broader market consolidation, Bitget’s trading volume surged by 21%, led by a 26% increase in futures trading. Spot trading reached $107 billion, ranking Bitget as the #3 crypto exchange globally by spot volume, just…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.