Full Breakdown
Victoria’s Revised Work-From-Home Bill Faces Business Opposition
9/10/2026, 1:42:26 AM
Core Legislative Changes
The Victorian government’s work-from-home (WFH) legislation will grant most employees a statutory right to work from home up to two days a week, provided it is “reasonably” feasible. The right applies on a pro-rata basis to part-time and regularly employed casual staff. The bill will come into effect on July 1, 2027 for the majority of workers, but the commencement for small-business employees has been delayed until January 1, 2028. Employers must cover only essential equipment costs (hardware, software, secure IT access) and may exclude internet expenses. A new provision allows employers to give notice and revoke the entitlement if circumstances change or the arrangement is no longer reasonable. The legislation will be reviewed after 18 months of operation rather than the originally proposed three-year period.
Background and Context
The bill was first announced by former Premier Jacinta Allan, who proposed an initial start date of 1 September with a delayed start for small businesses on 1 July 2027. After Ben Carroll succeeded Allan, he pledged to repair Labor’s relationship with business and convened a round-table with industry leaders. On September 9, 2026, the government introduced a suite of pro-business amendments less than a day before the legislation’s scheduled parliamentary vote in the term’s penultimate sitting week.
Official Statements & Responses
The government plans to pass the bill with assistance from the opposition coalition.
Criticism & Opposition
Business groups remain strongly opposed. Bran Black, chief executive of the Business Council of Australia, said the fundamental problems with the bill “still remain” and called for the legislation to be set aside. Shadow attorney-general James Newbury criticised the government’s lack of transparency, claiming “Ben Carroll has released nothing” and that no amendments had been formally moved.
Data & Statistics
- July 1, 2027 – scheduled start for most workers.
- January 1, 2028 – scheduled start for small-business employees.
- September 9, 2026 – date the last-minute amendments were announced.
- The bill creates a dispute-resolution pathway through the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, with escalation to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I believe we have made the legislation a lot … better, and I thank the business community for the round table,” — Premier Ben Carroll
- “We can all go hunting for [amendments] – they do not exist. There have been no amendments moved either in the parliament or with any stakeholder.” — Bran Black, chief executive of the Business Council of Australia
What’s Next
The amended bill is slated for a parliamentary vote on Thursday. If passed, it will be subject to an 18-month performance review and is expected to face a constitutional challenge from employer groups citing inconsistency with the Commonwealth Fair Work Act.
