Victoria Premier Ben Carroll open to changes in work from home law, keeps two-day right

New Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has indicated he is open to amending the state's proposed work from home legislation, while reaffirming the government's commitment to preserving employees' right to work remotely for at least two days a week.

According to Australian media reports, the legislation would proceed through the parliamentary process and that sensible amendments would be considered. Even as the government maintained its support for the core provision introduced by former Premier Jacinta Allan.

"Work from home does work for families, and now it will go through that parliamentary process, and we will consider anything that is sensible," Carroll said.

"Sensible changes will always come up in any debate, and like any other debate, they will be considered,” he added.

When asked whether the proposed laws would continue to guarantee employees the right to work from home two days a week where reasonable, Carroll replied, "That’s the plan."

Work from home rights remain central

The proposed legislation would give Victorian employees the legal right to work from home for two days each week, provided the arrangement is considered reasonable. Pro rata arrangements would apply to eligible part-time and casual employees.

The legislation excludes workers on probation, apprentices, trainees, interns and employees participating in graduate programmes.

The reforms were introduced by former Premier Jacinta Allan, who argued they would save workers more than A$5,000 annually while reducing commuting times and easing congestion.

"We know that working from home works, it works for families, it works for parents," Allan said when unveiling the policy in June.

"We know bosses want to take it away, Liberals want to cut it and Labor wants to protect it."

Before stepping down, Allan also expanded the Bill to include regular casual and part-time employees.

Business groups call for overhaul

Employer groups have continued to oppose the proposed legislation, warning that the implementation timeline is too short and could impose significant administrative and financial burdens on businesses.

The Victorian Congress of Employer Associations has urged the government to substantially revise the Bill before it comes into effect.

"The proposed commencement timetable is also dangerously compressed," a spokesperson for the organisation previously said.

"This would leave employers scrambling to rewrite policies, establish new processes, assess safety obligations, understand cost liabilities, train managers and respond to employee notices under an entirely new legal regime."

The group also warned the reforms would add unnecessary complexity, cost and uncertainty for employers. 

It has called for a stricter two-day cap on remote work and a longer transition period to allow businesses to prepare.

Carroll assumed office earlier this week following Allan's resignation, with the work from home legislation emerging as one of the first major workplace policies to test his new administration.