Australian-first WFH laws kicked down the road

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has delayed the nation-first work from home laws until next year, undoing the timeline to deliver the changes promised by the predecessor he ousted just two weeks ago.

He confirmed he has advised the business community that he would ensure the Jacinta Allan policy is right, pushing the controversial law back until after the upcoming state election in November.

“I’ve spoken with [Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive] Sally Curtin this morning and [Australian Industry Group head] Tim Piper, and I’ve informed them that work from home will not proceed on the first of September,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“It will proceed on the 1st of July in 2027.”

Carroll said he supports the policy, but he would consult on any “commonsense amendments”.

“I support flexible work. It is good for working families. Equally, though, we need to make sure that our economy, everyone knows, it’s a partnership between working families and the business community and the government,” he said.

“That is why I’ve delayed these changes, and it’s why I’m going to continue to work with the business community and making sure this policy is right.”

It comes a week after Carroll told the ABC he would “roll the red carpet out” for the business community as he seeks to reset the state’s relationship with them and a day after peak body leaders called on him to scrap the law in its entirety.

Tuesday’s announcement was welcomed by the business community, but they reiterated their call for a complete overhaul.

“The Victorian Chamber maintains that the bill must be scrapped, as it is completely unnecessary, costly and burdensome for Victorian businesses,” Curtin said.

“The premier has been in touch with us directly and has indicated he is willing to meet with us. We hope to persuade him to abandon this destructive course.

“As it stands, this legislation remains a profound risk to our state’s economy.”

Business Council chief executive Bran Black warned the law would worsen the state’s economic decline.

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“Already, Victoria has the highest unemployment rate in the country and the Victorian economy cannot afford another policy that drives investment and jobs away, which only hurts Victorians through lower living standards,” he said.

“Delaying the bill is a welcome first step, but our position remains clear: the legislation is unnecessary and should be scrapped.”

The Coalition had conceded it would support Labor’s work-from-home laws but seek to introduce amendments that protect businesses, including restricting the right to employees who predominantly work within the state and delaying an employee’s right to appeal their company’s decision until next year.