Labor’s Payday Super bill (Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025), which comes into effect tomorrow, comes with regulations to reintroduce an exclusion for workers under 18 who work less than 30 hours per week from being entitled to superannuation.
The Greens introduced a partial disallowance to the regulations to parliament to ensure all workers under 18 are finally paid superannuation. The disallowance will be debated and come to a vote in the Senate today.
Through a senate inquiry, the Greens compelled the largest employers of young people in Australia to disclose whether or not they paid super to workers under 18 and the results are damning (p18).
Labor’s national platform promised to deliver on super for all workers.The Greens say if Labor genuinely cares about young people and workers they have no excuse but to support this disallowance.
As stated by Australian Greens spokesperson for finance, employment and workplace relations, Senator Barbara Pocock:
“The kids are not alright. The cost of everything has gone up but wages haven’t kept up with inflation. Labor knows how hard it is for young people and yet they choose to prevent young people from accessing the money they’ve earned.
“This is deliberate exclusion of super for young people. Robbing 515,000 young workers an estimated $405 million in super contributions in 2025-26 alone.
“A 16-year-old stacking shelves at Coles or Woolies or flipping burgers at McDonald’s earns every dollar of their wage the same way an adult worker does. Their labour has value.
“The majority of young people (93 per cent) work fewer than 30 hours a week because of school and study commitments, meaning they miss out on super. That’s unfair. Young people shouldn’t be penalised for going to school or studying.
“Labor is leaving under 18s underpaid and undercutting their futures. A party that leaves young workers out isn’t the party for workers.
“Young people are working hard, paying tax, and doing the right thing. They deserve every dollar they’ve earned, including their super.
“Under 18s pay taxes and contribute to our economy, so why shouldn’t they receive super?
“Whether they’re 16 or 60-years-old, every worker deserves super, and should receive the same financial rights as everyone else whether part-time or full-time.
“The Greens will continue to fight for young workers. We will fight Labor on these restrictions to ensure that every young person is paid super on every dollar they earn, no matter how many hours they work.”
