2026-08-24
The Victorian Greens will move to bring forward Labor’s delayed WFH laws to their original September start date, after the new Premier capitulated to big business and pushed the reforms back by at least ten months.
If Labor brings its legislation to Parliament, the Greens will work to ensure the Bill retains the original September commencement date. And if Labor fails to introduce the legislation before the November election, the Greens will introduce their own bill to give Victorian workers a legal right to WFH where it is reasonable and practical.
Victorian workers were promised these rights would start in September. People have planned their work and lives around that commitment.
The Greens will use their power in Parliament to hold Labor to its promise and ensure working people aren’t forced to pay the price for the new Premier’s capitulation to corporate lobbyists.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Leader Ellen Sandell:
“Labor made a promise to working people. The Greens will hold them to it.
“If Labor brings its bill to Parliament, we’ll move to restore the original September start date. If the new Premier tries to bury it until after the election, we’ll introduce our own legislation.
“Working from home has given people something incredibly valuable: more control over their lives. For women, carers and people with a disability it has opened up opportunities, while families have gained precious time together and our suburbs have been reinvigorated.
“Once people have experienced that better way of working, they shouldn’t have it taken away from them. The government’s job should be to protect that progress.
“Labor is willing to abandon workers to appease big business. The Greens aren’t.”
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Workers Rights spokesperson Aiv Puglielli:
“Workers have already waited long enough. The Greens will fight to get these rights in place as soon as possible and hold Labor accountable for the promise it made to Victorian workers.
“Working from home is a cost-of-living measure that saves workers thousands of dollars a year. A government serious about easing household budgets should be protecting that right, not delaying it at the request of big business.”