Superannuation Arrangements for Judges of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
- The superannuation arrangements for Judges of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (Federal Circuit Court) are governed by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999.
- Judges of the Federal Circuit Court 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 Judge's annual salary; and
- on or after 1 July 2011 - an amount equal to 15.4% of the Judge's annual salary.
- Responsibility for superannuation policy and administration of death and disability arrangements for Judges of the Federal Circuit Court transferred from the Attorney-General's Department to Finance on 1 January 2010.
Death and Disability Arrangements
- Judges of the Federal Circuit Court who retire due to permanent disability or infirmity (following certification by the Finance Minister and the general process outlined in the Disability Arrangements under the Judges’ Pensions Act 1968 (JP Act) and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999 (FCCA Act) 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 Judge would have been entitled to from time to time if he or she had not retired.
- A death benefit is payable where a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court 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 Judge would have been entitled to if the Judge had not died, over the period from the Judge's death to age 65.
