Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Women) (14:15): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government’s commitment to enshrining the right to work from home in law from 1 September this year supports the health and wellbeing of Victorians and their families. When workers are given the right to work from home, they gain time for rest, time for exercise, time for family responsibilities and time to manage their own care. Everyone knows that time spent commuting is time that is lost to other pursuits, like a quick 5-kilometre run around the block perhaps or a trip to the gym, to the dentist, to the doctor, to visit ageing parents or to attend to other family responsibilities. Time spent in the car or on the train means less time to do the grocery shop and to prepare a simple, healthy meal for the family. Around the world and here in Australia research demonstrates that giving people the choice to work from home is associated with better sleep, better food choices and less stress, which of course in turn leads to healthier lifestyles and improved physical and mental health and wellbeing for more Victorians.

The Allan Labor government’s plan to make work from home law makes clear that, if a worker can reasonably perform their role from home, they will have the right to do so for at least two days a week, regardless of the size of their workplace. Our government supports working people, we support flexible work and we support families to live their best and their healthiest lives. Of course this support for working families and this commitment to their health and wellbeing is not guaranteed. There are some in this chamber who, given the chance, will scrap the hard-won rights of working people. Flexible work is healthier work, and only Labor will protect it.