The developments follow a record-breaking compensation win in the ACT Supreme Court last month, the latest judgment in a series of cases involving former government employees who had been misled about their eligibility to join the lucrative Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme.

Fairfax Media has been contacted by a former Canberra Hospital nurse, who said she and other former employees may be eligible for similar compensation after missing out on a superannuation scheme.

An Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation spokeswoman said she was unsure of how many people were affected but said there could be ''quite a number'' who had been unable to pay superannuation contributions after being incorrectly classified as temporary employees.

''There are some issues for some nurses because, up until 1990, permanent part-time nurses were classified as temporary,'' she said.

Richard Faulks, from law firm Snedden Hall & Gallop, said many ACT government employees and former employees were previously employed in the capital by Commonwealth government departments or Commonwealth statutory authorities such as the Capital Territory Health Commission. The ACT Public Service was not created as a separate entity until July 1, 1994.

''For any employees, such as those employed at Canberra Hospital, prior to that date, who were advised they were not eligible to join the government superannuation schemes, there may be a possible claim,'' Mr Faulks said.

He said if employees had been misled about their eligibility after the creation of the ACT public service by ACT government representatives, there may be separate liability on the part of the ACT government.

However, Mr Faulks said the firm was not aware of such employees or former employees as of January 7.

Comment was sought from the ACT government and the Commonwealth and Public Sector Union but none was provided by time of print.

Senator Nick Xenophon is continuing his push for the establishment of an independent tribunal to accelerate future claims. The independent senator is expected to table a private member's bill on the issue next month and has said the government's handling of the issue had been a ''dog's breakfast''.

''Having a specialist tribunal to deal with this is essential,'' he said.

''The Commonwealth has already spent millions of dollars defending these claims.''

Senator Xenophon said he expected resistance to his proposal, which will encompass ''literally hundreds'' of claims, including those by former ABC employees.

''Successive governments have had their heads in the sand in regards to this issue,'' he said. ''This is the difference between people being able to live decently in their retirement or living in poverty.''