Shocking issue costing Aussie workers as much as $2140 a year

Monday, 4 May 2026 15:51

A staggering new analysis has found workers are being docked $6 billion every year. Now, it's hoped that a new rule will help change that.

Australian workers are being urged to check their superannuation payments, as a new analysis reveals one in four are being underpaid - often by thousands of dollars a year.

Between 2018 and 2023, Australian workers were underpaid superannuation by a staggering $24.4 billion collectively, the analysis by the Super Members Council (SMC) found.

New South Wales had the highest total underpayments, totalling $8.1 billion, followed by Victoria with $6.1 billion over the five-year period.

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A major superannuation shake-up is set to impact more than 14 million Australian workers but many employers are still in the dark ahead of the July 1 deadline.

However, the highest figure for underpayment per individual was in the Northern Territory with an average amount of $2140 per year, closely followed by the Australian Capital Territory at $2120 a year.

The figures were calculated by the SMC based on an analysis of the Australian Tax Office (ATO)'s 2 per cent sample file in 2018-19 and 2022-23.

According to their modelling, a worker underpaid by $1730 in super for just one year could enter retirement $30,000 worse off due to the loss of compounding investment returns.

From July 1, payday superannuation laws will come into effect, requiring employers to pay super at the same time as wages, instead of quarterly.

Experts believe this change will help reduce the amount of unpaid superannuation, which currently costs Australian workers $6 billion a year.

It's also hoped the change will increase transparency for workers, making it easier for them to spot and fix underpayments.

"Unpaid super is a silent pay cut that's cost Australian workers $24.4 billion in just the last five years alone," SMC CEO Misha Schubert said.

"This is money Australians have earned but never been paid – and it's leaving millions significantly poorer at retirement.

"Unpaid super hits hardest where it hurts most – for women, younger workers and people on low incomes."

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