Australian State of Victoria Moves to Legislate Working from Home

The Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, has unveiled a landmark proposal aimed at enshrining working from home (WFH) into law, framing it as “a right, not a request.” The proposed legislation would entitle eligible employees to work remotely at least two days per week, provided their job functions can be reasonably performed outside the traditional workplace.

Features of the Proposal

Statement from Premier Jacinta Allan

Speaking at the Labor Party’s state conference on Saturday, Allan said:

“We’re doing this because the evidence is clear — workers are more productive, it saves time for families, and it saves money. This change will mean that any worker who can reasonably do their job from home has the right to do so for at least two days a week.”

She emphasised the importance of getting the policy framework right through comprehensive consultation:

“It’s essential we get the details of this important change right.”

Opposition Reaction

Victoria’s opposition leader, Brad Battin, expressed support for the principle of remote work:

“Work from home arrangements have proven valuable, and I support any measure that fosters better work-life balance.”

This contrasts sharply with the federal opposition Liberal-National coalition, whose national election platform in May included proposals to curb remote working, a move widely believed to have contributed to their electoral underperformance.

The proposal represents a major policy shift in the post-pandemic workplace landscape, and if enacted, Victoria could become the first state in Australia to guarantee remote work rights in law.