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“This change will make a meaningful difference for millions of Australians who need and deserve a dignified retirement,” he said.
Friday will also see the removal of a threshold which meant those earning less than $450 a month weren’t entitled to super payments from their employer. From July 1, anyone over the age of 18 will be able to receive super payments, no matter how much they earn, and those under 18 will be able to receive super payments if they work more than 30 hours a week.
Almost 300,000 lower-income workers, two thirds of which are women, will be paid super on their wages for the first time, Industry Super Australia analysis shows.
“The removal of the $450 threshold is particularly significant for low-income, casual and part-time workers,” said Sarah Adams, the head of strategy, reputation and corporate affairs at the country’s largest super fund, AustralianSuper.
The changes coming to super on July 1
- The $450 per month super threshold is being removed, meaning 300,000 low-income earners will be paid super on their wages for the first time.
- The super guarantee rate increases from 10 per cent to 10.5 per cent, meaning the typical worker will get an additional $312 into their super accounts a year.
- By July 1, super funds will have to publish their retirement strategies as part of the retirement income covenant.
Funds will also be required to detail how they will help people during the retirement phase of their superannuation.
Friday also marks the 30th year of compulsory super, introduced by the Keating Labor government in 1992.
Other significant reforms introduced last year include laws to start an annual performance test that names and shames poor-performing funds and a “stapling measure” to tie workers to one product for life.