NT Police super
choice of fund, closed schemes and the age-67 question

If you joined the Northern Territory Police Force after 9 August 1999, your super is straightforward. The NT Government pays the Superannuation Guarantee into the fund you choose, and the balance is yours to manage like any other accumulation account.

If you joined earlier, you may be in one or more closed defined benefit schemes: NTGPASS and its companion NTSSS, or the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme, possibly topped up by the NT Police Supplementary Benefit Scheme. The consent agreement requires pre-August 1999 members to keep contributing to CSS or NTGPASS.

After 9 August 1999

Arrangement

Fund of your choice (default: Hostplus)

Type

Accumulation

Your contribution

None required

1 October 1986 to 9 August 1999

Arrangement

NTGPASS, plus NTSSS

Type

Lump sum defined benefit

Your contribution

2% to 6% of salary

Before 10 August 1999, CSS member

Arrangement

Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme

Type

Hybrid: defined benefit pension plus accumulation

Your contribution

5% basic (or nil by election)

CSS member who joined NTPSBS before 1 January 1988

Arrangement

CSS plus NT Police Supplementary Benefit Scheme

Type

Defined benefit top-up to the CSS pension

Your contribution

1% of salary to NTPSBS

You started	Arrangement	Type	Your contribution
After 9 August 1999	Fund of your choice (default: Hostplus)	Accumulation	None required
1 October 1986 to 9 August 1999	NTGPASS, plus NTSSS	Lump sum defined benefit	2% to 6% of salary
Before 10 August 1999, CSS member	Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme	Hybrid: defined benefit pension plus accumulation	5% basic (or nil by election)
CSS member who joined NTPSBS before 1 January 1988	CSS plus NT Police Supplementary Benefit Scheme	Defined benefit top-up to the CSS pension	1% of salary to NTPSBS

Sources: NT Treasury scheme pages, NT Police Force Consent Agreement 2022 cl 30(m), Department of Finance CSS page.

The NTSSS deserves a mention because many people forget it exists. It's a non-contributory, employer-financed benefit of 3% of salary for each year of service since 1 October 1988, paid by the Territory when you leave. There's no fund behind it, so nothing can be rolled in.

NT Treasury describes post-1999 employees as being in "choice of fund" arrangements, where the government contributes the Superannuation Guarantee. Its rate table shows 12% from 1 July 2025. We found no higher police rate in the 2022 consent agreement and no police top-up scheme for new members.

NSW Police

Employer super

12%

Notes

12% employer contribution for officers in accumulation super (reported; the pre-1988 and SASS schemes differ). Officers also pay 1.8% of salary towards the death and disability scheme.

Victoria Police

Employer super

Defined benefit

Notes

Police and PSOs are in the ESSS Police Superannuation defined benefit scheme, so the benefit depends on years of service and salary rather than a % contribution.

QPS

Employer super

18%

Notes

Queensland police receive 18% employer super with no compulsory member contribution.

WA Police

Employer super

12%

Notes

WA Police contributes 12% (the Superannuation Guarantee), and shift loadings attract super. GESB is the default fund unless you choose another.

SAPOL

Employer super

At least 12%

Notes

SA officers receive at least the 12% Superannuation Guarantee through Super SA; older members may be in the closed Police Superannuation Scheme.

Tasmania Police

Employer super

12%

Notes

Tasmania pays the 12% Superannuation Guarantee into your chosen fund; the default fund is CareSuper (Tasmanian Treasury, April 2026). The old state defined benefit scheme closed in 1999.

NT Police

Employer super

At least 12%

Notes

NT officers receive at least the 12% Superannuation Guarantee; super for new recruits isn't confirmed.

AFP

Employer super

15.4%

Notes

AFP employees receive 15.4% employer super (PSSap or their chosen fund).

Force	Employer super	Notes
NSW Police	12%	12% employer contribution for officers in accumulation super (reported; the pre-1988 and SASS schemes differ). Officers also pay 1.8% of salary towards the death and disability scheme.
Victoria Police	Defined benefit	Police and PSOs are in the ESSS Police Superannuation defined benefit scheme, so the benefit depends on years of service and salary rather than a % contribution.
QPS	18%	Queensland police receive 18% employer super with no compulsory member contribution.
WA Police	12%	WA Police contributes 12% (the Superannuation Guarantee), and shift loadings attract super. GESB is the default fund unless you choose another.
SAPOL	At least 12%	SA officers receive at least the 12% Superannuation Guarantee through Super SA; older members may be in the closed Police Superannuation Scheme.
Tasmania Police	12%	Tasmania pays the 12% Superannuation Guarantee into your chosen fund; the default fund is CareSuper (Tasmanian Treasury, April 2026). The old state defined benefit scheme closed in 1999.
NT Police	At least 12%	NT officers receive at least the 12% Superannuation Guarantee; super for new recruits isn't confirmed.
AFP	15.4%	AFP employees receive 15.4% employer super (PSSap or their chosen fund).

From our force data files. Some rates are reported rather than confirmed in an instrument; see each force's super guide.

The 2022 consent agreement does confirm one helpful detail: salary for super purposes is gross salary before any salary sacrifice. Sacrificing into super therefore doesn't shrink your employer contributions.

The NT pays generous allowances. Whether they attract super is the question to put to payroll.

The 23% Consolidated Allowance is the obvious example. We couldn't confirm whether it attracts super. Our projections below show what it would be worth if it did, as a clearly labelled hypothetical.

1. 1

   You nominate a fund

   Your choice

   Complete the superannuation fund choice form when you start. The NT Government pays your SG there.

2. 2

   Or your stapled fund is used

   Stapling

   If you don't choose and already have a super account from a previous job, the SG rules send contributions there.

3. 3

   Or the default fund

   Default

   With no choice and no stapled account, contributions go to the NT Government's default fund, which NT Treasury names as Hostplus.

An older NT Treasury page, last updated in June 2020, still names Statewide Super as the default. If you joined around then without choosing a fund, check where your money went. Two accounts mean two sets of fees and insurance premiums.

The method: contributions taxed 15%, a 6.5% net return, 3% pay growth and 2.5% inflation, shown in today's dollars. Officers stay at the stated rank. Sergeant rates for 2026 aren't published by NTPFES, so the Sergeant rows use our estimate from the 2022 agreement plus the agreed 2025 increases.

Constable 1, age 25, $0

Salary for super

$87,005

Retire at

60

Today's dollars

$689,000

Future dollars

$1,636,000

Constable 1/C 10, age 35, $80,000

Salary for super

$103,977

Retire at

60

Today's dollars

$670,000

Future dollars

$1,242,000

Same, plus $200 a fortnight salary sacrifice

Salary for super

$103,977

Retire at

60

Today's dollars

$815,000

Future dollars

$1,510,000

Same, if the 23% Consolidated Allowance counted (hypothetical)

Salary for super

$127,892

Retire at

60

Today's dollars

$776,000

Future dollars

$1,438,000

Sergeant 5 (estimated rate), age 45, $300,000

Salary for super

$139,008

Retire at

60

Today's dollars

$826,000

Future dollars

$1,196,000

Sergeant 5 (estimated rate), age 45, $300,000

Salary for super

$139,008

Retire at

67

Today's dollars

$1,202,000

Future dollars

$2,069,000

Example officer	Salary for super	Retire at	Today's dollars	Future dollars
Constable 1, age 25, $0	$87,005	60	$689,000	$1,636,000
Constable 1/C 10, age 35, $80,000	$103,977	60	$670,000	$1,242,000
Same, plus $200 a fortnight salary sacrifice	$103,977	60	$815,000	$1,510,000
Same, if the 23% Consolidated Allowance counted (hypothetical)	$127,892	60	$776,000	$1,438,000
Sergeant 5 (estimated rate), age 45, $300,000	$139,008	60	$826,000	$1,196,000
Sergeant 5 (estimated rate), age 45, $300,000	$139,008	67	$1,202,000	$2,069,000

Salaries from the NT table effective about 7 August 2026 (date inferred). The Consolidated Allowance row assumes it attracts super, which isn't confirmed. Illustrations only, not forecasts or advice.

Because the NT's compulsory retirement age is now 67, some officers will work longer than in other forces. For the Sergeant starting at 45, staying to 67 instead of 60 lifts the projected balance from about $826,000 to $1,202,000 in today's dollars, and leaves seven fewer years to fund.

Free tool

Run your own NT Police projection

Choose NT, enter your age, balance and salary, and compare 12% with extra salary sacrifice. Set "Retire at" to 67 to see what the NT's later retirement age could mean.

Open the super calculator →

Constable 1

Salary

$87,005

Employer 12%

$10,441

Room under the cap

$22,059

Per fortnight

$848

Constable 1/C 10

Salary

$103,977

Employer 12%

$12,477

Room under the cap

$20,023

Per fortnight

$770

Senior Constable 6

Salary

$120,539 ^calc

Employer 12%

$14,465

Room under the cap

$18,035

Per fortnight

$694

Sergeant 5

Salary

$139,008 ^calc

Employer 12%

$16,681

Room under the cap

$15,819

Per fortnight

$608

Senior Sergeant 4

Salary

$151,337 ^calc

Employer 12%

$18,160

Room under the cap

$14,340

Per fortnight

$552

Superintendent 4

Salary

$215,052 ^calc

Employer 12%

$25,806

Room under the cap

$6,694

Per fortnight

$257

Rank	Salary	Employer 12%	Room under the cap	Per fortnight
Constable 1	$87,005	$10,441	$22,059	$848
Constable 1/C 10	$103,977	$12,477	$20,023	$770
Senior Constable 6	$120,539 calc	$14,465	$18,035	$694
Sergeant 5	$139,008 calc	$16,681	$15,819	$608
Senior Sergeant 4	$151,337 calc	$18,160	$14,340	$552
Superintendent 4	$215,052 calc	$25,806	$6,694	$257

Calculated by us on base salary. 'calc' marks salaries estimated by us; NTPFES hasn't published them. If allowances attract super, the room is smaller.

Every dollar of concessional contribution, employer or sacrificed, counts towards the $32,500 cap. If your total super balance was under $500,000 on the previous 30 June, unused cap from the past five years can be carried forward, which matters for officers who start sacrificing late.

Division 293 adds 15% tax on concessional contributions once income plus those contributions exceeds $250,000. NT Superintendents come close on salary and employer super alone.

Senior Sergeant 4

Salary

$151,337 ^calc

Employer 12%

$18,160

Test total

$169,497

Over or under

$80,503 below

Superintendent 2

Salary

$205,892 ^calc

Employer 12%

$24,707

Test total

$230,599

Over or under

$19,401 below

Superintendent 4

Salary

$215,052 ^calc

Employer 12%

$25,806

Test total

$240,858

Over or under

$9,142 below

Rank	Salary	Employer 12%	Test total	Over or under
Senior Sergeant 4	$151,337 calc	$18,160	$169,497	$80,503 below
Superintendent 2	$205,892 calc	$24,707	$230,599	$19,401 below
Superintendent 4	$215,052 calc	$25,806	$240,858	$9,142 below

Salaries for these ranks are our estimates. Salary sacrifice doesn't change the total. Allowances counted as income, investment income and overtime all add to it.

For CSS and NTGPASS members with income above the threshold, Division 293 on the defined benefit interest is deferred: the ATO keeps a debt account that accrues interest and is paid when the benefit is paid.

NTGPASS

NTGPASS is a contributory, lump-sum defined benefit scheme set up under the Superannuation Act 1986. Members contribute 2% to 6% of contribution salary and can change the rate once a year on 1 October. The benefit is worked out as 2.5% × benefit salary × total benefit points × vesting factor.

The vesting factor matters if you leave early. NT Treasury says the employer's share isn't paid on resignation within the first five years, is partly paid between five and ten years, and is fully paid after that. Death and invalidity benefits add a prospective employer component of 17.5% of benefit salary for each year of service you would have had to maximum retirement age.

NTSSS

Every NTGPASS member is also in NTSSS, which adds 3% of salary for each year of service since 1 October 1988, paid by the Territory when employment ends.

CSS and the NT Police Supplementary Benefit Scheme

The CSS is the Commonwealth scheme that closed to new members on 1 July 1990. It's a hybrid: its main benefit is usually a pension based on your reason for leaving, contributing service and age. Members pay a 5% basic contribution or elect to pay nothing.

The NTPSBS was set up by trust deed on 15 June 1984 and closed to new members on 1 January 1988. It supplements the CSS pension for eligible NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services members. Members pay 1% of salary, and qualifying members receive a lifetime indexed pension or a commuted lump sum that starts when the CSS pension does.

The Police Administration Act sets compulsory retirement at 67, raised by Act No. 31 of 2023 with effect from 7 December 2023. You can retire voluntarily from 55. A retired member can be reappointed at a rank no higher than their last, but not at 67 or over.

55

What happens

Earliest voluntary retirement from the force

60

What happens

Preservation age for anyone born after 30 June 1964: accumulation super generally available once you retire

65

What happens

Super available whether or not you've retired

67

What happens

Compulsory retirement from the NT Police Force

Age	What happens
55	Earliest voluntary retirement from the force
60	Preservation age for anyone born after 30 June 1964: accumulation super generally available once you retire
65	Super available whether or not you've retired
67	Compulsory retirement from the NT Police Force

Sources: Police Administration Act (NT) s 22; preservation rules as published by the ATO and super funds.

Retiring at 55 leaves a gap of up to five years before accumulation super is generally available. NTGPASS and CSS members have their own benefit rules on early retirement, so get a benefit estimate first.

For choice-of-fund members, resigning changes nothing about your balance: it stays in your fund, and your next employer can pay into the same account. Before switching forces, compare the super on offer. Our guides cover AFP super at 15.4%, SA Police super with access from 50, and Tasmania Police super.

For NTGPASS members, resignation can cost a lot through the vesting rules. Ask NT Treasury's Superannuation Office for a benefit estimate showing your resignation benefit next to your retirement benefit. The interstate transfer guide covers the rest of the move.

Under section 91 of the Police Administration Act, if a member is totally and permanently incapacitated, the Commissioner may retire them on the grounds of invalidity after considering the applicable super legislation. If you're not totally and permanently incapacitated but can't do your duties, the Commissioner must take reasonable steps such as finding alternative duties.

Under the Return to Work Act, payments are reported to step down after 26 weeks to 75% of lost earning capacity, capped at 150% of average weekly earnings. We haven't confirmed that in the Act itself. The NT Police Association is the right first call after a serious injury.

If you die, your fund pays your balance and any death cover to your dependants or estate, guided by your nomination. NTGPASS adds an employer-financed death benefit for members under 60. Lifeline is on 13 11 14 if you need support.

Check where you sit on the NT Police pay table and how the NT promotion system lifts your salary. For defined benefit decisions in particular, a licensed adviser who knows public sector schemes is worth the fee.