Payday Super: new rules starting 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, a new Australian law called Payday Super will change how often employers need to pay Superannuation Guarantee (SG) to their employees.

Under this new system, super will be paid every payday, at the same time as your salary or wages. Currently, it can be paid quarterly.

This change is designed to:

• Help your super grow faster
• Give you better visibility over payments
• Reduce the risk of unpaid or late super

Many public sector employers already pay super with their pay cycle, so if you’re working for the WA Government, you’re already in a good position to make the most of your super – but further changes will speed up super processing times.

What’s changing?

From 1 July 2026, depending on your employer:

Super could be paid more frequently

Your SG will be paid into your super account each payday.

If you work in the WA public sector, you likely already receive your super contributions within 14 days of your pay date, so you’re already in a good position - and the changes will make super processing times even faster.

If you work in the private sector, you may currently receive super contributions quarterly. The changes will mean that your SG will be paid into your super account each payday.

Superannuation Guarantee (SG) will be calculated on new ‘qualifying earnings’

Your SG will be paid at 12% of your qualifying earnings – a new term defined in the legislation to make SG calculations more consistent across employers.

Super funds must receive contributions sooner

Your super fund must receive your contribution within 7 business days of payday, so you may see money landing in your account more quickly.

New employees may have a short delay

If you start a new job, your first super payment may take a little longer, because your employer may have up to 20 days to pay your initial contribution.

Benefits for Australian workers

The faster your super hits your account, the longer it stays invested, allowing for greater compound interest – which can add thousands to retirement savings.

For example, by switching to payday super, a 25-year-old median income earner currently receiving their super quarterly and wages fortnightly could be around $6,000 better off at retirement.¹

The new system will provide better protection for those in lower paid, casual work who are likely to miss out on super when it is paid less frequently - and are more susceptible to unpaid super.

Women make up much of this group and will benefit from increased security and compounding of funds, due to lower average super balances and time out of the workforce.