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The announcement represents a change from the government’s 4 March policy update, which said the laws would take effect from 1 September 2026.
The Victorian government has delayed the proposed start date for its legal right to work from home, with Premier Ben Carroll saying businesses need more time to prepare.
In a Facebook video, Premier Carroll said the policy’s commencement would move to 1 July 2027.
“Work-from-home works. It helps working families, saves people time and money,” he said.
“It’s why my government is making your right to work from home two days a week law.”
The announcement represents a change from the government’s 4 March policy update, which said the laws would take effect from 1 September 2026. Under that earlier proposal, only workplaces with fewer than 15 employees would have received a delayed start date of 1 July 2027.
Carroll said he had heard feedback from employers that “some common-sense changes” could make the policy work better.
“That’s why we will move the start date to 1 July 2027, so businesses have more time to prepare,” he said.
However, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, despite welcoming the delay, stated that the government should abandon the proposed legislation altogether. In a statement, the chamber said businesses had made clear their view that the bill was unnecessary and would send the wrong signal to business and investors amid weak economic conditions and high unemployment in Victoria.
The chamber added that the proposed system would be costly, complex and unworkable, and called on the government to work with business to restore confidence in the state economy.
Victorian Chamber Chief Executive Sally Curtain said the organisation welcomed the Premier’s decision “to pause the debate of this divisive legislation, and to listen to our members”.
However, Curtain said a delay would not address the chamber’s broader concerns.
“The Victorian Chamber maintains that the Bill must be scrapped, as it is completely unnecessary, costly and burdensome for Victorian businesses,” she said.
“The Premier has been in touch with us directly and has indicated he is willing to meet with us. We hope to persuade him to abandon this destructive course.”
“As it stands, this legislation remains a profound risk to our state’s economy.”
The proposed laws would give Victorian employees whose jobs can reasonably be performed remotely, a legal right to work from home two days a week. The government has previously said it planned to enshrine the right in the Equal Opportunity Act.
Under the previously announced model, disputes would first be referred to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) for conciliation. Matters that could not be resolved could proceed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
READ MORE: Fair Work Commission Australia confirms minimum wage to rise by 4.75% from 1 July 2026
Lead image / Premier Ben Carroll Facebook
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