Working from home could become a legal right in Victoria under a state government proposal announced at the Labor conference today. The Australian-first laws would give workers who can reasonably do their job from home the legal right to do so two days a week. Industrial relations is the domain of the federal government, which raises questions about the path to legislating changes for private companies.
00:11Trying to push for people to stay home makes everything around here a lot more quiet.
00:15Today, a face-to-face meeting of Labor Party faithful, with a boss launching a bold new policy.
00:22My Labor government will make working from home a right.
00:26Not a request, a right.
00:30And a message for those who want to push back.
00:33There are plenty of bosses who will fight us on this, I'm absolutely sure of it.
00:36And if it's a fight they want, they'll get it.
00:39Victorian workers who can reasonably work from home will have the chance to, for at least two days a week.
00:45We've also got the data and the evidence that show us that it's working right now.
00:49That workers are more productive, that it's saving workers time and money.
00:54But how the brand new policy will actually work in practice raises questions.
00:59We will have members, both small and large, will be looking at it and going, should I continue trading in Victoria?
01:06The industrial relations legislation should remain as it is now, federally, and it should be dealt with federally.
01:11Victoria shouldn't be trying to go it alone.
01:13The coalition's policy on working from home, a pivotal moment in their federal election campaign.
01:19We made a mistake in relation to the work from home policy.
01:22The Victorian opposition today offering its support for measures that will help Victorians enjoy a better work-life balance and will review any legislation closely.
01:31The working from home policy will go through a public consultation phase, with the Premier hoping to make it law before next year's state election.
01:38The government says it could save Victorians $110 each week.
01:42But legislating it remains unclear, because regulating the private sector rests with the federal government.
01:48The Commonwealth really regulates this area, it covers the field, so I think the Victorian enactment would be rarely used.
01:56Who's going to challenge this?
01:58Delegates also passing a motion to recognise Palestinian statehood.
02:02A small number of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered nearby.
