7 August 2025
The SA Greens are urging Premier Peter Malinauskas to get with the program and join them in legislating to protect the right to work from home for 1 day per week.
The Greens’ plan to introduce a Private Member’s Bill to set guardrails to protect the right to work from home for 1 day per week for those SA workers whose role can reasonably and practically be performed remotely.
The plan comes after Premier Malinauskas told ABC Radio on Monday that he did not support protecting work from home rights in law, despite the Victorian Labor Government announcing their plan to legislate a 2-day WFH entitlement. The SA Greens say their plan will save workers thousands, cut congestion and give workers the flexibility they need in modern Australia.
Key elements of the Greens bill:
• Workers would have the right to request work from home and have a discussion at the workplace level with their boss
• 1 day per week work from home will be permitted unless the employer can show why the arrangement would be unreasonable and impractical given the specific nature of the role.
• If agreement cannot be reached at a workplace level, an independent umpire (SA Employment Tribunal) will decide
• The entitlement will save workers and families thousands while reducing transport congestion.
• The bill will apply to those workers covered by the SA Industrial Relations system – public sector workers.
Robert Simms is Greens MLC in SA Parliament, Spokesperson for Workplace Relations:
“The Greens urge Premier Malinauskas to update his thinking about modern workplaces in South Australia.”
“The Greens’ plan will mean if you can do your job at home, you will have the right to work from home at least 1 day per week. We want to legislate to establish reasonable guardrails to help workers and employers reach agreement at a workplace level in the first instance.”
“Workers are being stretched, and the Greens’ work from home bill will help them. This will mean more money in the pockets of workers and more time for your life, family and friends - while costing employers nothing.”
“Given the Victorian Labor Government is proceeding with a 2 day entitlement in law, our proposal in SA is eminently reasonable. We urge the Premier to reconsider his opposition and back our bill when it comes before Parliament.”
“This will reduce travel time, cut congestion, boost productivity and cut the cost of commuting. Workers and families will save thousands on travel and associated costs.”
“I urge the Premier to embrace this opportunity to work with the Greens and avoid the perception that the Labor Government is out of touch with modern workplaces. If the Government fails to act, I have no doubt this will become a key issue for the next state election.”