Get our breaking news email, free app<\/a> or daily news podcast<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Australian-first laws that guarantee the right to work from home two days a week are unlikely to pass Victorian parliament before the November state election, with the Coalition and crossbench teaming up to refer the bill to an inquiry<\/p>\n The laws were first announced in 2025 by the then premier Jacinta Allan in a bid to capitalise on the backlash to the federal Coalition\u2019s plan to force public servants back into the office full-time, which contributed to the opposition\u2019s election loss<\/p>\n The Victorian Coalition, though, had said it would support the bill and expected it would pass parliament on Thursday. But in a shock development<\/a>, it joined with crossbench MPs to effectively stall the proposed laws until after the election<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what we know<\/p>\n On Thursday morning, the Victorian premier, Ben Carroll announced several amendments to the bill, which the Coalition shadow attorney general, James Newbury, said the opposition would support<\/p>\n But the Coalition joined forces with a group of crossbenchers to support a motion, put forward by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Jeff Bourman, to refer the laws to a parliamentary committee for examination<\/p>\n The motion was carried 18 votes to 17, with the support of two Legalise Cannabis MPs, Libertarian David Limbrick, Moira Deeming, who announced she had joined the Family First party on Thursday, One Nation\u2019s Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell and Adem Somyurek \u2013 an ex Labor MP who made his first appearance at parliament this year to vote for the inquiry<\/p>\n The committee will report back by 20 October but with parliament\u2019s final sitting day before the November state election being 24 September, the motion effectively means the bill will not go to a vote before Victorians do<\/p>\n Newbury said he supported the legislation going to a review because the business community \u201chasn\u2019t had enough time to fully think through\u201d the amendments put forward by Carroll<\/p>\n Carroll was furious. He accused the Liberals of \u201cpretending to support\u201d the work from home laws only to \u201cteam up with One Nation\u201d to vote them down. He said the opposition leader, Jess Wilson, had shown her \u201ctrue colours\u201d and was \u201cjust like Peter Dutton\u201d<\/p>\n The Greens, though, blamed the government. They the bill should have been debated weeks ago but instead the government \u201cdelayed\u201d and \u201chollowed out\u201d the laws \u201cto appease bosses and corporations\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re calling for parliament to be recalled so we can get this done before the election,\u201d Greens MP Aiv Puglielli said<\/p>\n The Animal Justice party MP Georgie Purcell, who abstained from the vote, also said it was the government\u2019s fault, as it provided MPs with amendments the night before the vote, which she said was not enough time to consider them<\/p>\n Carroll said he would not recall parliament. His language suggests he is gearing up for work from home to be an election issue<\/p>\n Business groups, though, will be thrilled. The Property Council\u2019s Cath Evans said \u201cparliament has seen sense\u201d and \u201cmade the right call\u201d to refer it to a committee<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Evans had announced the Property Council had obtained legal advice from constitutional law specialists, Nick Wood SC and Leigh Howard, which found the bill was inconsistent with the federal Fair Work Act and would be rendered invalid under section 109 of the constitution. This section states that when a state law is inconsistent with a federal law, it becomes invalid<\/p>\n That same day, the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and others had urged the government to abandon the bill and said the no changes could fix \u201ca fundamentally flawed law that will risk Victoria\u2019s economy and send jobs interstate\u201d<\/p>\n The bill establishes a statutory right for employees to work from home for up to two days weekly, provided it is \u201creasonably\u201d feasible, under the Equal Opportunity Act<\/p>\n This right applies to all Victorian employees, including on a pro-rata basis for part-timers and casuals, and all businesses, regardless of size<\/p>\n Initially, Allan proposed the bill take effect on 1 September, with a delayed start for small businesses on 1 July 2027<\/p>\n But when Carroll took over the Labor leadership in July, one of his first moves as premier was to pause debate in the upper house to allow for consultation with business leaders \u2013 and said it wouldn\u2019t commence until 1 July 2027<\/p>\n Carroll earlier on Thursday said the amendments to the bill \u201cstrike the right balance\u201d between providing flexibility for workers and reducing impact on businesses. They include:<\/p>\n A further delay for small businesses to 1 January 2028<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Limiting the costs an employer must pay to staff to enable them to work from home to \u201cessential equipment\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Giving employers the ability to revoke the right to work from home for worker if \u201ccircumstances change and they\u2019re no longer eligible, or it\u2019s no longer reasonable for them to keep working from home\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Changing its scope so that employers can refuse a request if it would have a \u201cmaterial impact\u201d on efficiency and productivity \u2013 rather than a \u201csignificant adverse impact\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Ensuring the legislated right to work from home will not stack on existing agreements between workplaces and employees<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/figure>\n Explore more on these topicsShare \n Related:<\/strong> \n Join Justfine Infotech<\/strong> and build real digital skills in AI, automation, web development, digital marketing, office productivity, e-commerce, freelancing and cybersecurity<\/a>.<\/p>\n Available Programmes:<\/strong> WhatsApp:<\/strong>Why have the laws stalled?<\/h2>\n
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What was the reaction?<\/h2>\n
How does the bill work?<\/h2>\n
How has the bill changed?<\/h2>\n
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