Home >> Superannuation >> Superannuation Arrangements for Governors-General, Federal Judges and Federal Magistrates

Superannuation Arrangements for Governors-General, Federal Judges and Federal Magistrates

Following the Government’s decision in October 2008 to consolidate governance arrangements for Australian Government Superannuation Schemes, the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance) now holds responsibility for the policy and administration of the Governors-General Pension Scheme, the Judges’ Pensions Scheme and the death and disability arrangements for Federal Magistrates.

Governors-General Pension Scheme

• Benefits under the Governors-General Pension Scheme are governed by the Governor-General Act 1974.
• The Scheme is unfunded and no assets are held. Benefits are financed from Consolidated Revenue as they become due for payment. Current and former Governors-General do not contribute to the Scheme and the Commonwealth meets the costs of benefits.
• The main benefit is a retirement pension of 60 per cent of the salary payable to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.
• A reversionary pension is payable to the surviving partner (including a same sex relationship) following the death of a serving or retired Governor-General.
• Responsibility for policy and administration of the Scheme was transferred from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to Finance on 1July 2009.
  

Judges' Pensions Scheme

• Benefits under the Judges’ Pensions Scheme are governed by the Judges’ Pensions Act 1968.
• The Judges’ Pensions Scheme covers the following office holders:
  • presidential members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
  • presidential members of Fair Work Australia
  • Judges of the Family Court (including the Family Court of Western Australia)
  • Judges of the Federal Court
  • Judges of the High Court
  • Solicitors-General appointed before 31 December 1997
  • Judges of the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court appointed before self-government.
• The Scheme is unfunded and no assets are held. Benefits are financed from Consolidated Revenue as they become due for payment. Judges and retired Judges do not contribute to the Scheme and the Commonwealth meets the costs of benefits.
• The main benefit is a retirement pension of 60 per cent of the salary payable to the equivalent level judge, provided the judge has 10 years of service and the judge is 60 years of age or older.
• Judges have a compulsory retirement age of 70, except for presidential members of Fair Work Australia where the compulsory retirement age is 65.
• A reversionary pension is payable to the surviving partner (including a same sex relationship) following the death of a serving or retired Judge.
• Responsibility for policy and administration of the Scheme was transferred from the Attorney-General’s Department to Finance on 1 January 2010.
  

Judges' Pensions Scheme Handbook

• Judges' Pensions Handbook RTF version [ 765 KB]
• Judges' Pensions Handbook PDF version [ 225 KB]

Judges' Pensions Scheme – Long Term Cost Reports

• Judges Pension Scheme 2008 Long Term Cost Report - RTF version [ 1.9 MB]
• Judges Pension Scheme 2008 Long Term Cost Report - PDF version [ 273 KB]
• Judges Pension Scheme 2005 Long Term Cost Report - RTF version [ 1.9 MB]
• Judges Pension Scheme 2005 Long Term Cost Report - PDF version [ 201 KB]

Federal Magistrates Superannuation Arrangements

• Federal Magistrates’ superannuation arrangements are governed by the Federal Magistrates Act 1999.
• Federal Magistrates holding office on a full time basis are entitled to a Commonwealth contribution to his or her choice of a complying superannuation fund or a retirement savings account. The Commonwealth contribution is:
  • until the end of 30 June 2011 — an amount equal to 13.1% of the Magistrate’s annual salary; and
  • on or after 1 July 2011 — an amount equal to 15.4% of the Magistrate’s annual salary.
• Responsibility for superannuation policy and administration of death and disability arrangements for Federal Magistrates transferred from the Attorney-General’s Department to Finance on 1 January 2010.

Death and Disability Arrangements

• Federal Magistrates who retire due to permanent disability or infirmity are entitled to a pension until he or she attains the age of 70 years or he or she dies (whichever happens first).
• The annual rate of the pension is 60% of the annual rate of salary the Magistrate would have been entitled to from time to time if he or she had not retired.
• A death benefit is payable where a Federal Magistrate dies before age 65 leaving an eligible spouse or children. The benefit consists of a lump sum in the amount of the Commonwealth superannuation contributions that the Magistrate would have been entitled to if the Magistrate had not died, over the period from the Magistrate’s death to age 65.

All enquiries on the superannuation arrangements for former Governors-General and the Federal Judiciary can be directed to telephone (02) 6215 2749 or (02) 6215 3784, fax (02) 6267 3123 or email at JudicialSchemes@finance.gov.au

Contact for information on this page: JudicialSchemes@finance.gov.au

Back to top