Victoria had bipartisan support for a legal right to work from home. So why has Ben Carroll kicked it down the road?
Guardian AU
•Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:27:05 GMT
📰 What Happened
Victoria’s new premier Ben Carroll delayed the legislated right to work from home two days a week until next July, even though it had bipartisan support and was about to pass. The move pushed back a promise made by his predecessor Jacinta Allan. Analysis suggests it may be an attempt to soften business opposition.
🔍 The Backstory
The right to work from home became a political battleground after a federal election where a push to force public servants back to the office hurt the opposition. Victoria tried to claim the popular pro-worker ground by promising a legal right, which now looks in doubt.
🎯 Why It Matters
For hundreds of thousands of Victorians, this decides whether flexible and remote work is a legal right or a favour bosses can take away. It also shows how quickly a popular promise can be quietly shelved by a new leader.
Victoria’s new premier Ben Carroll delayed the legislated right to work from home two days a week until next July, even though it had bipartisan support and was about to pass. The move pushed back a promise made by his predecessor Jacinta Allan. Analysis suggests it may be an attempt to soften business opposition.
The right to work from home became a political battleground after a federal election where a push to force public servants back to the office hurt the opposition. Victoria tried to claim the popular pro-worker ground by promising a legal right, which now looks in doubt.
For hundreds of thousands of Victorians, this decides whether flexible and remote work is a legal right or a favour bosses can take away. It also shows how quickly a popular promise can be quietly shelved by a new leader.