Tuesday, 12 August 2025
Questions without notice and ministers statements
Ministers statements: worker entitlements
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Ministers statements: worker entitlements
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:39): Since the last sitting I joined the Premier to announce the government’s plan to protect the ability of Victorians who can work from home to do so two days a week. Today we advise that consultation is now open. This will bring together workers and employers alike to ensure that the proposed laws reflect the real-world experiences of working from home: what is fair, what is practical and what is working. All interested Victorians can provide input into how we can ensure this policy picks up on the diverse business and cultural needs of our state.
Working from home is not a new phenomenon. Hybrid working and working remotely have become an entrenched feature of contemporary Victorian work. Since this announcement we have heard from many Victorians on how important working from home is for them, their ability to participate, their work–life balance and their families. Protecting working from home means workers can save money and time not having to commute every day, just as one benefit. It means working parents have more flexibility to make arrangements for picking up their kids. It means greater recognition that workers are trusted to do their roles to an excellent standard and that they are productive and less stressed.
Work from home has also been shown to increase workforce participation, particularly among women, carers and people with disabilities, and very often for those who work regionally, so we see more Victorians able to contribute to the workforce and therefore that is good for the economy. Analysis from CEDA indicates that working from home a couple of days a week has a more than $5000 annual economic benefit per worker thanks to reduced commute time – that is on top of personal savings from reduced fuel and savings. This policy is fantastic. It is about supporting workers, supporting families and supporting Victorians.