Natalie SULEYMAN (St Albans – Minister for Veterans, Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Employment, Minister for Tourism) (14:10): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government’s right to work from home is working for Victorian small and family businesses. It is pretty clear working from home makes sense, because if you want to grow the economy it starts with our local communities – at the corner store, the baker, the newsagent or the drycleaner. We are already seeing the benefits. It means neighbourhoods are busier during the week. On our main streets, businesses are putting in their time and effort to grow their business, employ staff and provide to their local communities. That is why working from home is so important. We know that working from home saves Australians an average of $110 a week. That is over $5000 every year. It is also providing Victorians the flexibility and the savings to get out there and back small and family businesses. We are backing working families, and we are also backing our small and family businesses. That is why we have deferred the start date to 1 July 2027 for small and family businesses to make sure they have the time to adjust and to be correctly informed of these changes. I tell you the only flexibility Victorians will get from those opposite is their flip-flopping and their cuts, even cutting the Victorian Small Business Commission.
Members interjecting.