Under Commonwealth legislation, employers must pay a minimum of the superannuation guarantee charge rate times your ordinary time earnings into your nominated super account.
Ordinary time earnings (OTE) are generally salary plus all allowances which are not reimbursing expenses and excluding any earnings (including allowances) related to overtime.
Minimum superannuation guarantee
| Period | Superannuation guarantee rate |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023 | 10.5% |
| 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024 | 11.0% |
| 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025 | 11.5% |
| 1 July 2025 onwards | 12.0% |
Queensland Government superannuation contribution
By default, the Queensland Government—through your employing department, agency or statutory authority—pays a higher percentage (12.75%) of your superannuable salary as an employer contribution. To receive this, you need to make an employee contribution of 5%.
If you are a Police Officer, you will receive an 18% employer contribution by default, providing you make an employee contribution of 6%.
Contribution rates are calculated on your superannuable salary, which is your base salary plus approved allowances. Your superannuable salary may be lower than your ordinary time earnings.
You will receive your employer superannuation contributions each pay period, paid into your superannuation fund account.
Your employee contribution
By default, your employee contribution is set at 5% (6% if you’re a Police Officer).
You can nominate a lower employee contribution, but this will affect your employer contribution as shown in the table below.
| Government employees | Police officers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee contribution | Employer contribution | Employee contribution | Employer contribution |
| 5% | 12.75% | 6% (default) | 18% |
| 4% | 11.75% | 5% | 16% |
| 3% | 10.75% | 4% | 14% |
| 2% | 9.75%* | 3% | 12% |
*Topped up to 10.5% of ordinary time earnings in keeping with the Commonwealth superannuation guarantee.
If your calculated employer contribution is less than the minimum required under Commonwealth legislation (that is, the superannuation guarantee rate times ordinary time earnings), your employer will make an additional contribution to ensure this minimum obligation is met.
Some Queensland Government employees may have an arrangement where their employer pays the minimum employer contribution (required under Commonwealth legislation) each pay period without requiring an employee contribution. You can check with your employer if this arrangement applies to you.
You should consider seeking independent financial advice before changing your contribution rate.