Overview
- The Labor government introduced the bill to parliament on Tuesday to amend the Equal Opportunity Act so employees can work from home two days a week where reasonably possible.
- The law would cover full-time, part-time and regular casual workers on a pro‑rata basis, exempt new hires during probation, and start on September 1 with firms under 15 employees given until July 1, 2027 to comply.
- Disputes must first go to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission for conciliation and can proceed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal if unresolved, which legal and tribunal sources warn could mean long delays.
- Employers could refuse a request only for specified reasons such as a significant drop in productivity or excessive cost, and may be required to provide reasonable home‑office equipment and face compensation orders for unlawful refusals.
- Major business groups have publicly opposed the scheme and signalled likely legal challenges to the state law, while the government says using the Equal Opportunity Act is the lowest‑risk route against federal inconsistency claims.