Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment (Frontline Emergency Service Workers) Bill 2025

High-Level Summary
The bill proposes to increase the superannuation guarantee rate for firefighters and paramedics by 4.4% to align with the contributions provided to Australian Defence Force personnel, enhancing their financial security in retirement.

Summary
The Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment (Frontline Emergency Service Workers) Bill 2025 amends the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 by increasing the superannuation guarantee rate for firefighters and paramedics by 4.4%, bringing it to a total of 16.4%. This change aims to match the superannuation contributions provided to Australian Defence Force personnel. The bill acknowledges the physically demanding nature and early retirement patterns in these professions, which can affect financial stability post-retirement. The bill will have direct legal application in the Commonwealth (excluding Norfolk Island), Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, and the non-government sector, while also having effect in Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia (paramedics), Queensland (paramedics), and Western Australia (paramedics) through state legislation or industrial instruments referring to the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992.

Argument For
Normative Bases
  1. Egalitarianism
  2. Non-Discrimination

Firefighters and paramedics perform vital roles under high physical and mental stress, similar to Australian Defence Force personnel. Increasing their superannuation guarantee rate by 4.4% will promote fairness and equality by aligning their retirement benefits with those of the ADF. This adjustment acknowledges the unique challenges they face, such as early retirement due to job demands, which can limit their ability to save sufficiently for retirement [Judgment]. By enhancing their financial security, the bill supports a more equitable treatment of workers who serve in critical public safety roles.


Argument Against
Normative Bases
  1. Propertarianism

The proposed increase in superannuation guarantee rates for firefighters and paramedics may impose significant financial burdens on employers, particularly in the private sector or in jurisdictions where budgets are already constrained. This could result in increased operational costs that may not be sustainable without additional government funding or budget reallocations [Judgment]. Moreover, this adjustment could set a precedent for other professions demanding similar increases, potentially leading to a cascading effect that complicates financial planning for employers and the government.


Date:

2025-02-05

Chamber:

Senate

Status:

Before Senate

Sponsor:

MCKIM, Sen Nick

Portfolio:

Unspecified

Categories:

Social Support / Welfare, Labour, Discrimination / Human Rights

Timeline:
05/02/2025
23/07/2025

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