<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian workers are being urged to check their </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/superannuation" rel="" target="" title="superannuation"><span>superannuation</span></a><span> payments, as a new analysis reveals one in four are being underpaid - often by thousands of dollars a year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Between 2018 and 2023, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="" title="Australian"><span>Australian</span></a><span> workers were underpaid superannuation by a staggering $24.4 billion collectively, the analysis by the Super Members Council (SMC) found.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="" title="New South Wales"><span>New South Wales</span></a><span> had the highest total underpayments, totalling $8.1 billion, followed by </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="" title="Victoria"><span>Victoria</span></a><span> with $6.1 billion over the five-year period.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-4donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/5d0eb4fe-9c97-450b-86e1-1bdb15badd54" rel="" target="" title="USA and Iran don't have control over Strait of Hormuz, says expert"><strong><span>USA and Iran don't have control over Strait of Hormuz, says expert</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the highest figure for underpayment per individual was in the Northern Territory with an average amount of $2140 per year, closely followed by the Australian Capital Territory at $2120 a year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The figures were calculated by the SMC based on an analysis of the Australian Tax Office (ATO)'s 2 per cent sample file in 2018-19 and 2022-23.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to their modelling, a worker underpaid by $1730 in super for just one year could enter retirement $30,000 worse off due to the loss of compounding investment returns.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/unpaid-superannuation-costing-australian-workers-24-billion-dollars/2d6b105d-c682-4e49-93b9-987abcef8cb6" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From July 1, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/major-superannuation-shakeup-set-to-impact-more-than-14-million-workers/9a0798ed-c450-43eb-838c-a6555a2535a3" rel="" target="" title="payday superannuation laws will come into effect"><span>payday superannuation laws will come into effect</span></a><span>, requiring employers to pay super at the same time as wages, instead of quarterly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Experts believe this change will help reduce the amount of unpaid superannuation, which currently costs Australian workers $6 billion a year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's also hoped the change will increase transparency for workers, making it easier for them to spot and fix underpayments.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Unpaid super is a silent pay cut that's cost Australian workers $24.4 billion in just the last five years alone," SMC CEO Misha Schubert said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is money Australians have earned but never been paid – and it's leaving millions significantly poorer at retirement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Unpaid super hits hardest where it hurts most – for women, younger workers and people on low incomes."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a 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