Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities) Share this | Hansard source

At the outset, I thank those members who have contributed to this debate on the Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Measures No. 4) Bill 2018. You would be as firm in your conviction as I am that, if Australians are to continue to have confidence in the integrity of the superannuation system, we must ensure employers are paying workers their full entitlements. The Turnbull government is introducing strong new rules that will protect workers' superannuation entitlements by improving compliance with the superannuation guarantee. We are targeting the key barrier to better enforcement of the super guarantee: the ATO's visibility over how much superannuation employees are owed and the contributions their funds receive. This legislation will provide the ATO with near real-time information on employers' compliance with their superannuation guarantee obligations, allowing the ATO to identify and act on noncompliance earlier.

We are enhancing the ATO's toolkit to police noncompliance, introducing tough penalties for employers who are repeatedly short-changing their workers, and strengthening the ATO's powers to recover unpaid superannuation on behalf of employees. Employees will benefit from better and more frequent information about their superannuation. The ATO will be able to provide information about actions they are taking to collect unpaid superannuation guarantee contributions to employees and former employees irrespective of whether they have made complaints to the ATO. The bill will add three significant charities—Australian Philanthropic Services, Foundation 1901 and Sydney Chevra Kadisha—to the list of specified deductible gift recipients. The bill makes minor amendments to Treasury portfolio legislation to ensure our laws continue to operate as intended. The bill is an important step in safeguarding workers' entitlements, ensuring the superannuation system works for all Australians, and promoting charitable activity in Australia. I commend this bill to the House.

Mr Tim Wilson interjecting—

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