Ex-Labor minister’s surprise move to derail work-from-home law

Labor’s long-standing promise to give Victorians the right to work from home hangs in the balance after Coalition and crossbench MPs teamed up for a parliamentary manoeuvre that derailed the government’s plan to deliver the controversial change before November’s election.

On Thursday afternoon, upper house MPs voted 18-17 to refer the legislation to a parliamentary committee which will examine the policy in greater detail and deliver a report on it by October 20 – after the parliament’s final sitting day of the term.

The amendment was initiated by Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Jeff Bourman, who said he supported the principle of remote work but added: “I’m not convinced yet that it should be a right.”

Bourman said referring the bill to a committee would provide a “short, sharp inquiry” and allow for a more in-depth look at the policy, including its potentially adverse impact on business and the economy.

“Though there’s not a large amount of time, the review is designed so there is an ability for the bill to be delivered and there still be the possibility of a sitting day before we hit caretaker mode,” Bourman told parliament.

“I would suggest it would be a good thing – this whole work from home could actually be a problem or not a problem, but we’ve not had the chance as a society to look at it.”

Barring any change to the timeline of the inquiry, the government would have to institute an extra sitting day to pass the legislation before the election on November 28.

Bourman’s amendment was supported by the Coalition, which has backed working from home and decided not to oppose the bill, despite the concerns of business leaders.

Shadow attorney-general James Newbury on Thursday said he suspected the legislation would pass today – but said the opposition did “support the process which would allow the legislation to be further looked at”.

“We believe that the business community specifically hasn’t had enough time to fully think through the legislation, so it’s only reasonable that a very purposeful committee have the time to look at it further because we think there are a number of other issues that may come up throughout that process,” he said.

Bourman was also supported by One Nation’s sole MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Libertarian David Limbrick, both Legalise Cannabis MPs and former Labor minister Adem Somyurek.

Somyurek, who left the Labor Party after a branch-stacking scandal, rarely attends parliament to vote but said on X on Wednesday night that the bill was a “post-materialist experiment” cooked up by the government’s socialist left.

Labor and Greens MPs voted against the amendment, while Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell abstained.

In a statement, Purcell said the government’s decision to circulate its amendments to crossbenchers at 5pm on Wednesday was the reason she abstained.

“The changes were substantial and the reality is that we weren’t given enough time to give these amendments the consideration they deserve,” she said.

“While I understand the business sector’s concerns, I also represent a regional community that regularly has to commute into Melbourne. I fundamentally support the right to work from home and the benefit it brings to the lives of so many.

“Because of these competing factors, and how badly the government has handled this legislation, it was impossible for me to feel comfortable voting for or against the inquiry and I abstained from the vote.

“Anyone who is disappointed in this outcome has the government to blame for it.”

The business lobby, which has been campaigning against the legislation, are likely to welcome the inquiry, having argued the law would send investment and jobs interstate. Employer groups have been threatening to launch a High Court challenge against the legislation, should it pass, on the basis it is unconstitutional.

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