Small-business implementation timetable
Coalition speakers said the principle was sound but the rollout was rushed, citing the need for small businesses and digital service providers to have more time and good-faith compliance protections.
This bill became law on Nov 6th, 2025.
Budget, tax & economy
The Act reforms the superannuation guaranteeThe minimum employer superannuation support required for eligible employees. The bill changes how the charge framework encourages employers to pay it on time. framework so employers have a strong incentive to make superannuation contributions at the same time as employees are paid their qualifying earnings.
The bill was introduced to shift superannuation guaranteeThe minimum employer superannuation support required for eligible employees. The bill changes how the charge framework encourages employers to pay it on time. contributions from the quarterly model to a payday-aligned model, after government materials identified nearly $5.2 billion in unpaid superannuation in 2021-22 and argued earlier payment would improve compounding, transparency and ATO enforcement.
Payday superThe policy of paying employer superannuation contributions at the same time as wages, rather than under the old quarterly timing model. came out of the 2023-24 Budget’s unpaid-super package. The government’s explanatory materials framed the reform as a shift from quarterly SGThe minimum employer superannuation support required for eligible employees. The bill changes how the charge framework encourages employers to pay it on time. timing to contributions linked to each pay cycle, while debate focused on unpaid super, compounding losses, small-business transition risk, and Greens amendments on onboarding advertising and under-18 part-time workers.
The main criticism was not that workers should miss out on super, but that the implementation timetable and compliance design would be hard for small businesses and software providers. The Greens supported the bill but criticised omitted protections on super fund advertising during onboarding and sought stronger coverage for young part-time workers. One Nation opposed the bill, saying it would hurt small-business cash flow and employment.
Jim Chalmers MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 06 Nov 2025
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
1 recorded amendment or procedural vote was found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
28 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
The Act reforms the superannuation guaranteeThe minimum employer superannuation support required for eligible employees. The bill changes how the charge framework encourages employers to pay it on time. framework so employers have a strong incentive to make superannuation contributions at the same time as employees are paid their qualifying earnings.
The new framework starts on 1 July 2026 and applies to superannuation guaranteeThe minimum employer superannuation support required for eligible employees. The bill changes how the charge framework encourages employers to pay it on time. contributions for qualifying earnings days on or after that date.
Employers can reduce their superannuation guarantee chargeA charge payable when an employer has a superannuation guarantee shortfall. Under the new framework it can include final shortfall amounts, notional earnings, administrative uplift and choice loading. to nil if contributions are received by the employee’s fund within the required period, usually seven business days after payday.
Late or missing contributions create a superannuation guaranteeThe minimum employer superannuation support required for eligible employees. The bill changes how the charge framework encourages employers to pay it on time. shortfall and charge; notional earningsAn interest-like component intended to compensate an employee for returns lost because a required super contribution was late or missing. accrue so employees are compensated for lost superannuation earnings.
The explanatory materials acknowledge implementation costs, including payroll and business software updates, and higher contribution volumes for superannuation funds.
The Act commences at the same time as the companion Superannuation Guarantee ChargeA charge payable when an employer has a superannuation guarantee shortfall. Under the new framework it can include final shortfall amounts, notional earnings, administrative uplift and choice loading. Amendment Act 2025.
The reforms will create a strong incentive for employers to make superannuation contributions for their employees at the same time as they pay the employee’s qualifying earnings.Explanatory memorandum
The Bills commence on 1 July 2026. The Bills apply to SG contributions in respect of QE days on or after 1 July 2026.Explanatory memorandum
employers that make SG contributions so that they are received by the employee’s superannuation fund within a specified period (usually seven business days) after the employer has paid qualifying earnings will be able to reduce their liability to pay the SG charge to nil.Explanatory memorandum
Where SG contributions are received after the specified period, or are not made at all, the employer will have an SG shortfall and will be liable for the SG charge. Notional earnings will accrue on unpaid SG to compensate the employee for lost superannuation earnings.Explanatory memorandum
The compliance cost impact includes the need for digital service providers to update payroll and other business software, with this cost likely passed on to employers that use these services. Superannuation funds will also need to ensure their systems will be capable of handling an increase in contribution volume.Explanatory memorandum
The whole of this Act At the same time as the Superannuation Guarantee Charge Amendment Act 2025 commences.Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Act 2025
Context
Payday superThe policy of paying employer superannuation contributions at the same time as wages, rather than under the old quarterly timing model. came out of the 2023-24 Budget’s unpaid-super package. The government’s explanatory materials framed the reform as a shift from quarterly SGThe minimum employer superannuation support required for eligible employees. The bill changes how the charge framework encourages employers to pay it on time. timing to contributions linked to each pay cycle, while debate focused on unpaid super, compounding losses, small-business transition risk, and Greens amendments on onboarding advertising and under-18 part-time workers.
Government announces payday superThe policy of paying employer superannuation contributions at the same time as wages, rather than under the old quarterly timing model. package
The explanatory memorandum says the bills fully implement the Securing Australians’ Superannuation Package from the 2023-24 Budget.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Unpaid super estimate frames the problem
The explanatory memorandum says unpaid superannuation totalled nearly $5.2 billion in 2021-22 alone.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Bill introduced in the House
Jim Chalmers introduced the bill and said workers should be paid super at the same time as wages.
House Hansard ↗House passes bill
The House agreed to the second and third readings after debate and after the government rejected the Coalition implementation-delay amendment.
Parliamentary timeline and House debate ↗Senate debates Greens and Coalition concerns
The Senate agreed to a Greens second-reading amendmentA parliamentary amendment to the motion that a bill be read a second time. It can record views or conditions without changing the bill text itself. on onboarding advertising, defeated the Greens under-18 part-time worker amendment in committee, and passed the bill.
Senate Hansard and Journals ↗Royal Assent
The bill received Royal Assent and became Act No. 57 of 2025.
Federal Register of Legislation metadata in local source bundle ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2025; local source bundle records consideration but does not include the report extract.
Considered in published report
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was not that workers should miss out on super, but that the implementation timetable and compliance design would be hard for small businesses and software providers. The Greens supported the bill but criticised omitted protections on super fund advertising during onboarding and sought stronger coverage for young part-time workers. One Nation opposed the bill, saying it would hurt small-business cash flow and employment.
Labor and Greens speakers supported passage, the Coalition supported the principle and final passage while seeking changes, and One Nation speakers opposed the bill.
Small-business implementation timetable
Coalition speakers said the principle was sound but the rollout was rushed, citing the need for small businesses and digital service providers to have more time and good-faith compliance protections.
Onboarding advertising omitted
The Greens argued the bill should have retained exposure-draft provisions regulating super fund advertising during employee onboarding, so workers are not steered into unsuitable products when starting a job.
Under-18 part-time workers
The Greens said young part-time workers under 18 should not be left out of superannuation, and moved a committee-stage amendment to prevent regulations excluding them from qualifying earnings.
One Nation opposition
One Nation speakers argued faster payment rules would damage small-business cash flow, remove a useful ATO clearing-house service, and impose costs that could harm employment.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.
Senate
Moved by Barbara Pocock (Australian Greens). Defeated 14 to 24. Support came from Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, and UAP.
The bill passed without the Greens change that would have locked in superannuation coverage for under-18 part-time workers.
The Senate agreed on voices to a Greens second-reading amendmentA parliamentary amendment to the motion that a bill be read a second time. It can record views or conditions without changing the bill text itself. noting that the bill did not include exposure-draft provisions on super fund advertising during employee onboarding.
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Jim Chalmers supports the bill as a payday-super reform to require superannuation to be paid with wages, improve compounding retirement savings, and help the ATO detect unpaid super earlier.
Read in Hansard ↗Malcolm Roberts opposes the bill, arguing it will damage small-business cash flow, remove the ATO small-business clearing house, and mainly benefit industry super funds.
Read in Hansard ↗Rebekha Sharkie supports the bill after noting years of constituent complaints about unpaid super, while also acknowledging concerns about the tight implementation timetable for employers.
Read in Hansard ↗Tim Wilson backs the Coalition second-reading amendmentA parliamentary amendment to the motion that a bill be read a second time. It can record views or conditions without changing the bill text itself. and uses the bill debate to argue for small-business protections, a delayed start for small employers, and a broader critique of compulsory superannuation policy.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
16 speakers · 17 contributions · 16 support
“The amount of unpaid super owed to workers in my electorate of Deakin was $31.4 million”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The member calls superannuation 'neo-feudalism'. What nonsense!”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“this will improve the lives of millions of Australians”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Labor believes super should be paid on payday, just like wages.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill is common sense. This bill will be welcome news to all Australian workers.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This legislation is a once-in-a-generation reform to close one of the biggest gaps in our superannuation system.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Lisa Darmanin on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Lisa Darmanin supports the bill as a wage-theft and retirement-security reform, arguing workers lose both their money and decades of compounding when super is paid late.
“When superannuation is paid late, workers lose out twice”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Lisa Darmanin supports the bill and argues against delaying payday superThe policy of paying employer superannuation contributions at the same time as wages, rather than under the old quarterly timing model., saying modern payroll systems can handle regular super payments and delay would hurt younger workers.
“Those opposite in the coalition want to delay payday super. They say that it's too much too soon and that it will overwhelm business.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“The bill delivers on a simple but powerful principle: when Australians are paid their wages, they are paid their superannuation at the same time—no delays and no excuses.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Payday super is not just a policy change. It's a fundamental fix to a broken system that has allowed billions in superannuation to go unpaid.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“From 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay super contributions into an employee's fund within seven days of each payday rather than quarterly.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Unpaid super is wage theft, plain and simple, and the problem with a quarterly system is that it hides nonpayment for months or even years.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is a fundamental reform to the bedrock of our retirement system.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Workers should be paid their super at the same time they are paid their salary and wages. That's exactly what this bill enshrines into law.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Workers should be paid their super at the same time they are paid their salary and wages, and that's exactly what this bill enshrines into law.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The government will not be supporting the amendments moved and tabled by the shadow Treasurer.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This isn't just a technical change to payroll systems; it is about fairness.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 2 mixed
“So, yes, we're moving this amendment because we clearly believe in it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“At the outset, let me make clear the coalition strongly supports the principle of payday super.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
3 speakers · 3 support
“The Greens welcome the Labor government's Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025 and Superannuation Guarantee Charge Amendment Bill 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I very much support Senator Pocock's amendment and would commend it to the Senate.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Greens welcome this bill, and we will be supporting it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 2 oppose
“One Nation opposes this bill because One Nation supports employment, workers and small businesses.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Superannuation arriving a few weeks earlier, which you still can't access for 30 years, will cripple some small businesses through lean times.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“I absolutely appreciate that the timeline is tight—eight months from passage to commencement—and some challenges may remain that need to be addressed.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the WholeA Senate stage where senators can consider a bill in detail and move amendments to the bill text. debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the WholeA Senate stage where senators can consider a bill in detail and move amendments to the bill text. debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Considered in published report
Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2025; local source bundle records consideration but does not include the report extract.
Local source bundle note