Overview

• The proposed legislation would guarantee any public or private sector employee whose duties can reasonably be done remotely the right to work from home at least two days a week.
• Detailed consultations led by the Department of Premier and Cabinet will establish definitions of remote work, eligible businesses and practicability exemptions before the bill is introduced in 2026.
• Victoria’s peak business bodies have warned the reforms could prompt companies to relocate interstate, harm productivity and trigger legal challenges under federal industrial relations law.
• Unions and worker advocates have hailed the proposal as a major advance in work–life balance, highlighting potential savings of about $110 per week and wider participation benefits.
• Legal experts predict state-level work-from-home rights will face court scrutiny over conflicts with the national Fair Work Act, echoing past cases before the Fair Work Commission.