Australian Industry Group has lodged a submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee opposing the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Fair Super for Young Workers) Bill 2026. This private Senator’s Bill from the Australian Greens would remove the long-standing exemption from compulsory superannuation for employees under 18 who work fewer than 30 hours per week.

The Bill seeks to revisit a proposition that the same Committee declined to adopt just four months ago, when the Committee concluded that priority should be given to implementing and evaluating payday super before any further changes to super arrangements for employees under 18 could be considered.

The submission also emphasises that extending compulsory super to school-aged employees would increase labour costs and administrative obligations for employers, particularly in key sectors that provide large numbers of entry-level jobs for young Australians.