NO.042
Around 11,000 ex Ansett workers, who have been waiting
nearly a decade for their superannuation entitlements, have
finally been paid. The Trustee, Mercer Superannuation
(Australia) Limited has advised the Government that
payments totalling approximately $16 million have been made
to members.
"This is great news for the thousands of ex-Ansett
workers who have been waiting a long time for their
entitlements and for this process to come to an end,"
the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation,
Bill Shorten, said.
"Ansett may be gone, but the workers are not
forgotten. The Labor party has never given up on Ansett
workers."
"The collapse of Ansett was a significant moment in
Australia's recent history, and as much of an impact as
it had on the country, it is of course the workers who
suddenly lost their jobs that day who were the most
affected."
"It is fantastic that these workers have been able to
receive their outstanding superannuation, which is a
fundamental workplace entitlement."
The Ansett Residual Superannuation Fund was established in
2004 by the former trustees of the Ansett Australia Ground
Staff Superannuation Plan and the Ansett Australia Flight
Attendants Superannuation Plan to pay outstanding death and
disablement claims before distributing the remaining assets
to members.
"Payments have been made progressively over the last
few months and by 28 June 2012, all outstanding
superannuation entitlements have been paid."
Any members seeking more information can go to the Ansett
Residual Superannuation Fund website at: https://secure.superfacts.com/public/ansett/home.tpz
or call 1800 815 903.
The Gillard Government has already acted to better protect
workers' entitlements in future.
Legislation recently passed the Senate to extend the
director penalty regime - which has been a feature of the
tax law since 1993 - to cover unpaid superannuation
guarantee amounts.
This legislation will allow the Commissioner of Taxation to
recover unpaid superannuation guarantee amounts from
company directors where their companies have failed to
comply with their superannuation obligations.
Moreover, the Government is committed to the 'Securing
Super' proposals which formed part of the
Government's broader Protecting Workers'
Entitlements Package.
Specifically, under the Securing Super commitments,
employees will receive information on their payslip about
how much and when their super is actually paid into their
accounts. This policy will help ensure that workers get
information about their superannuation payments in a timely
manner.
2 July 2012
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