Tuesday, 16 June 2026

 Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Minister for Sport and Major Events) (14:20): Work from home is working for Victorian workers and Victorian businesses. Our workforce participation leads the nation and is already 4.4 per cent higher than it was before the pandemic, showing that flexibility is helping more people stay engaged with work. In fact the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, together with the Committee for Melbourne, undertook a detailed survey on work from home and found 76 per cent of businesses reported staff regularly working from home already and 77 per cent of businesses reported requiring staff to attend the office a minimum number of days – you guessed it, three days per week. Work from home benefits businesses, whether through employee retention, lower absenteeism or lower overhead costs or by accessing a wider talent pool – as the Premier said, particularly women in the workforce.

This is all in the context of a growing economy, with more jobs being created. The national accounts came out last week. They demonstrated that state final demand in this state increased by 3.5 per cent to the year ending March 2026, the equal strongest growth of all the states, and over the last decade our economy has grown faster than any other state. It has grown 28 per cent since 2014–15. We know not all jobs can be done from home, but we believe every Victorian can benefit, whether it is a barista getting an extra shift at a suburban cafe or a tradie having less traffic to get to his or her job. But across the country every Australian and definitely every Victorian has to worry about a Liberal–One Nation coalition –

Jacinta Allan interjected.

Steve DIMOPOULOS: A One Nation–Liberal coalition that wants to rip working from home from Victorians.

James Newbury: I renew my earlier point of order, Speaker. Ministers statements are not an opportunity to simply sledge the opposition.

The SPEAKER: The minister to come back to his ministers statement without attacking the opposition.

Steve DIMOPOULOS: The short of it is that a One Nation–Jess Wilson government would be a disaster for Victoria.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I caution ministers again that if you cannot make a ministers statement and refer to members by their correct titles without attacking the opposition then I would ask you to resume your seat.