The Coalition government has pledged to mandate all public servants to work from the office five days a week if elected. This proposal, aimed at saving $6 billion annually through job cuts, has sparked debate over the balance between efficiency and flexibility in the workplace.
A Coalition government has pledged to mandate all public servants to work from the office five days a week if elected. Liberal senator and opposition finance spokesperson Jane Hume stated last night, 'It will be an expectation of a Dutton Liberal Government that all members of the APS ( Australian Public Service ) work from the office five days a week.
' This commitment to end working from home for APS employees aligns with Peter Dutton's claim that the government could save $6 billion annually by reducing the public sector workforce by 36,000 positions. The Coalition asserts that exceptions will be granted on an individual basis. Hume explained to the Menzies Research Centre, a Liberal-aligned think tank, 'Exceptions can and will be made, of course; but they will be made where they work for everyone rather than be enforced on teams by an individual.' She further emphasized, 'This is common sense policy that will instil a culture that focuses on the dignity of serving the public, a service that relies on the public to fund it, and a service that respects that funding by ensuring they are as productive as possible.' However, the Coalition's objective of bringing public servants back to the office may face a significant delay. The current agreement allowing for flexible work arrangements will remain in effect until 2027, towards the end of the next term of government for either party. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized the Coalition's proposal, suggesting it mirrors policies adopted by foreign nations, particularly the United States under former President Donald Trump. He stated, 'If they hear something on the news, an announcement from overseas about sacking public servants, or people working from home, or DEI – the dreaded inclusion policy they're so worried about – they say 'yeah, I'll have some of that'.' Albanese emphasized the need for Australian policies tailored to the country's specific circumstances, asserting, 'What we need is Australian policies for Australian conditions because we are unashamedly the best country on Earth, and we don't need to borrow from anyone else.' He also highlighted the non-discriminatory nature of the current flexible work arrangements, stating, 'It doesn't discriminate against people on the basis of gender,' and reiterating his commitment to upholding these arrangements, saying, 'This will not happen under a government I lead.
Coalition Public Servants Work-From-Home Australian Public Service Peter Dutton
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