Not terribly reassuring as to timing - but at least the delays are
out in the open. Also it says ATO will pay "full financial
compensation" to employee's super funds.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/30/1091080441525.html

"Tax Office gives super assurance
July 30, 2004 - 8:49PM

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has assured workers they will not be
left out of pocket by problems with the administration of compulsory
superannuation payments.

It said only a small minority of Australia's 9.6 million employees
and 900,000 employers were being affected by ongoing system problems
with the Super Guarantee processing system.

Individuals potentially affected were those with outstanding
employer-funded super entitlements and obligations, an ATO statement
said, while full financial compensation would be paid.

"Full financial compensation will be paid to the employees' super
accounts to cover interest foregone through delays in getting the
money into the funds," it said.

"All the money is superannuation savings that cannot be accessed
until retirement."

A new computer system was put in place by the ATO last December to
administer the new quarterly Super Guarantee legislation and to make
direct payments to super funds of employee entitlements.

The ATO said problems with the new system had caused delays,
particularly with cases involving unpaid entitlements from past
years.

The new system has been effective in paying $45.2 million to 62,000
individuals in cases of employer-declared shortfalls or claimed
super vouchers since May.

However, more complex cases involving past years' calculations are
being processed manually.

Currently, $97 million in super recovered for 193,000 employees is
being processed this way - to date, $1.4 million has been paid
directly to the funds.

Employers affected by ATO delays in calculating and collecting the
unpaid employee entitlements will have any penalties waived so they
too are not out of pocket.

Where an employer fails to pay super to eligible employees, the ATO
collects entitlements and penalties on behalf of employees and
transfers the money to the employee's super fund.

© 2004 AAP"