ACTU – Amnesty for stolen super lets thieves walk free – $5.6 billion stolen per year

24 May 2018

Minister for Revenue and Financial Services Kelly O’Dwyer this morning suggested an amnesty which would allow the employers who have stolen superannuation from 2.4 million Australian workers to avoid punishment.

The Turnbull Government is so determined to protect employers that it is willing to write off any penalties for billions in stolen superannuation.

Employer should be facing increased, financially meaningful penalties, instead they are being let off scot-free by a Government which has never demonstrated any interest in protecting the rights of working people.

Quotes attributable to ACTU Assistant Secretary Scott Connolly:

• “The Government should be increasing penalties to try and stop wage theft and theft of superannuation; instead they are giving employers a green light as long as they return the money they stole.
• “The egregious double standard being created here is an insult to all Australian workers, more than 2.4 million whom have had super stolen by an employer.
• “$5.6 billion per year is taking from workers’ retirement savings and this proposed measure adds to the list of inadequate attempts by the Turnbull Government to deal with unpaid super.
• “We need to change the rules so that employers are held to account for their actions, and if this Government won’t protect the rights of working people, then we need to change the government.”