Peter Dutton has partially scaled back the Liberal Party’s promise that all government workers will be forced to return to the office full-time should the Coalition win the federal election.
Dutton and Liberal senator Jane Hume had previously said a Coalition government would expect all members of Australia’s public service to work from the office five days a week.
Back in March, Dutton said the policy would save wasteful government spending and increase productivity: “I don’t think it’s unreasonable that people, like in many other workplaces, are asked to go back to work for that face-to-face contact.”
He has now softened that hard stance, indicating that public service workers across the country will still be offered some flexible working arrangements.
The notable exception was for workers in Canberra, with Dutton hinting that some public servants in the capital could be required back in the office full-time, unless protected under existing agreements.
“The policy doesn’t affect anybody except for public servants in Canberra. I strongly support work from home. I’ve been very clear about that, and our policy doesn’t have any impact in the private sector, doesn’t have any impact on the public sector outside of Canberra,” Dutton said.
“What we’ve said is that we want to make sure, where taxpayers are working hard for their money, that we have the most efficiency in the public service in Canberra.”
‘Existing arrangements’ would be considered
“I’ve said very clearly that where you’ve got existing arrangements which happen in Canberra now in the public service, you have EBAs that are there that allow for work from home arrangements, we are not proposing to change those and that’s the reality.” — Peter Dutton, Opposition leader.
How many people could be affected?
There were around 185,000 public service employees as of 2024 according to the Australian Public Service Commission, which includes Australian Defence Force personnel and Australian Federal Police staff.
More than two-thirds of these people are not based in Canberra, and would therefore not be made to return to the office if Dutton keeps his word.
Additionally, given that many public servants in Canberra have a protected ability to work from home under existing arrangements, it appears the pool of workers who could be impacted by any changes brought in by the Coalition would be smaller than previously expected.