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.