Payday super laws will help Cbus Super members get what they’ve earned
9 October 2025
News release
Cbus Super applauds the Australian Government for introducing new payday super laws to Parliament, an important reform which will reduce unpaid super and deliver retirement savings straight into a member’s account to immediately begin earning and compounding.
This law change is crucial, especially considering that in the last financial year alone, Cbus proactively recovered nearly $200 million in unpaid super for 180,000 members.
Once passed these laws would mean from mid-2026, super must be paid for workers during the regular pay run rather than once a quarter, allowing workers to better check they are being paid the right amount.
Unpaid super remains a persistent problem in the construction and building industry, and critically for our members who work in hazardous occupations once their super payments stop, they lose their insurance, stripping them and their families of a significant financial support in a time of a need.
Cbus Acting Chief Member Officer Bernie Dean said the fund was committed to getting its members super paid on time and in full, which is why over 10 years (to 30 June 2025), the fund has proactively recovered more than $1.13 billion in unpaid super for our members.
“Super should be in accounts earning and compounding as soon as possible so that all workers can enjoy the dignified retirement they deserve, that’s why payday super is such an important reform for Cbus members.”
“We urge the Parliament to pass these laws quickly, as they will improve the quality and security of retirement for all Australians.”
“Our members have worked hard and deserve every dollar of super they are owed, payday super helps to deliver it for them.”
On average an affected worker misses out on $1,800 in super a year – which can mean more than $30,000 less in retirement as these savings do not grow through the power of compound interest and investment returns**.
In hazardous occupations missing super isn’t just a retirement issue, it also means the risk of losing out on valuable insurance protection that could support workers and their families if something goes wrong. Under super laws, insurance lapses if no super has been paid into an account for 16 months.
“Most employers do the right thing, but there is a small number that deliberately underpay their workers and gain an unfair business advantage by not paying the correct amount of super,” Mr Dean said.
“The new payday super laws make it much harder for those seeking an unfair commercial advantage by undercutting workers to get away with it.”
“Ahead of the new payday super laws being enacted, we remind workers to check that what’s going into their super account matches the payslip and is what they’re owed.”
“We also call on employers to look at their administrative systems to make sure they are working effectively ahead of being called on to make more frequent payments. Cbus will continue to support our employers to make the transition to more frequent payments for their employees and our members”.
Cbus also calls on the Australian Tax Office to work collaboratively with super funds to identify more cases of unpaid super and that the ATO provides more detail on its plans to monitor and enforce payday super.
Cbus is one of the few super funds that proactively recovers unpaid super for its members. Cbus collected $193.1 million in unpaid super during FY25. Over the past five years, the fund has recovered nearly $700 million for members.
Media enquiries: media@cbussuper.com.au or James Dowling: 0429 437 851
* Last financial year Cbus Super’s providers and workplace coordinators recovered $193.1 million in unpaid super for our members. In the past five financial years (FY21 to FY25) Cbus has recovered $699 million nationally helping 660,000 members.
** Fixing unpaid super: Making super fairer for workers and employers alike, Super Members Council, August 2024, Page 3, smcaustralia.com/app/uploads/2024/08/Fixing-unpaid-super-SMC-Report-August-2024.pdf
This information is about Cbus Super. It doesn’t account for your specific needs. Please consider your financial position, objectives and requirements before making financial decisions. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination to decide if Cbus Super is right for you. Call 1300 361 784 or visit cbussuper.com.au.
Insurance is issued under a group policy with our insurer, TAL Life Limited ABN 70 050 109 450, AFSL 237848.
Cbus Super is the leading Industry Super Fund representing those that help build, maintain and shape Australia. As one of Australia’s largest super funds, we provide superannuation and income stream accounts to more than 900,000 members and we manage more than $105 billion of our members’ money (as at 30 June 2025). As of April 2022, Cbus merged with Media Super and offers Media Super products. In May 2023 Cbus Super successfully completed its merger with EISS Super, welcoming 17,000 new members and establishing itself as the leading fund for energy and electrical workers in Australia.
Issued 9 October 2025, United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 as trustee for Construction and Building Unions Superannuation Fund (Cbus and/or Cbus Super) ABN 75 493 363 262.