Overview

• The Coalition has withdrawn its controversial policy to mandate full-time office work for public servants and will maintain current flexible work arrangements.
• Plans to reduce 41,000 public service jobs will now be achieved through natural attrition and a hiring freeze over five years, with no forced redundancies.
• Peter Dutton admitted the initial policy was a mistake, citing voter backlash and concerns over its impact on working families, particularly women.
• Critics, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, question the Coalition's commitment to flexible work and accuse the reversal of being politically motivated.
• The policy shift raises doubts about the Coalition's ability to achieve its fiscal savings goals, initially projected at $7 billion annually by year five.