维多利亚州政府宣布将引起争议的居家办公法案延迟至2027年7月生效，比原定的2025年9月推迟了10个月[2]。这项延迟决定是对商业团体请求的回应，反映了州总理本·卡罗尔采取更亲商业立场的转变[2]。
该法案旨在保障员工的居家办公权利，适用于全职员工及按比例计算的兼职和定期临时工[1]。卡罗尔在承诺该法案仍将在11月州选举前通过议会的同时表示："我支持在家工作。我支持灵活工作。这对工薪家庭有益"[2]。根据法案规定，雇主需支付员工居家办公的"合理成本"[1]。
反对党联盟确认不反对该法案但提议修正案以保护企业[1]。修正案包括将合理成本支付上限定为1000澳元、禁止工会进入住宅、延迟员工上诉权以及保护企业和董事在员工居家受伤时的责任豁免[1]。
商业界对这项立法的忧虑持续存在。澳大利亚商业委员会主任本·威克斯称该法案"成本工作和投资"[1]，维州商会首席执行官萨莉·柯蒂认为这是"就业的毒药"[1]。澳大利亚工业集团维州负责人蒂姆·派珀表示企业可能考虑离岸运营[1]。八个商业游说团体联合反对，认为该法会导致失业率上升和企业流向州外[1]。此外，法律专家对州政府的立法权提出质疑，指出大多数工作场所法律由联邦政府管辖[1]。
Victoria's Labor government is advancing legislation to guarantee full-time employees the right to work from home two days per week, though the opposition Coalition has signaled support conditional on amendments to safeguard employers [1]. The opposition has proposed seven modifications, including capping employer reimbursement for reasonable work-from-home costs at AUD 1,000, restricting union access to residential premises, and delaying employee appeal rights until next year [1]. Premier Ben Carroll has committed to the legislation while indicating willingness to consider "sensible amendments" [1].
The proposal has drawn fierce opposition from eight business lobby groups, which argue the law will increase unemployment and drive companies to relocate interstate [1]. Business Council of Australia director Ben Wicks characterized the legislation as creating "cost, work and investment" challenges [1], while Victorian Chamber of Commerce CEO Sally Curtain called it "poison for jobs" [1]. Australian Industry Group Victoria leader Tim Piper warned that businesses may consider offshore operations in response [1]. Legal experts have also questioned the state government's legislative authority, noting that most workplace laws fall under federal jurisdiction [1].
The government has since delayed the legislation's implementation to July 1, 2027—pushing back the original September 2025 start date by ten months [2]. Carroll stated, "I support work from home. I support flexible work. It is good for working families," while pledging that the bill will pass parliament before the November state election [2]. The delay responds to business sector requests and reflects a more business-friendly approach from the premier [2].