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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationRushing Working from Home laws will only lead to more bungling
Rushing Working from Home laws will only lead to more bungling
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Unfortunately, the Victorian government has not heeded this advice, forcing HIA to today join other members of the Victorian Congress of Employer Associations to seek amendments to the Equal Opportunity Amendment (Work from Home) Bill by adopting a ten-point plan.
“The Victorian government needs to learn from recent mistakes and allow more time for its Working from Home laws to be implemented,” stated HIA Executive Director, Keith Ryan.
A major point in the plan is a deferral to the commencement of the laws until 1 March 2027 to ensure that businesses have time to set up appropriate systems. The deferral would also allow time for the government to include the necessary amendments to the law identified by the ten-point plan.
“Businesses will generally only prepare for new legislation once they have sufficient certainty about the timing and requirements of that legislation. Anyone with experience in operating a business or employing people, which sadly does not include most Victorian politicians, understands that managing day to day operations will take priority over possible, probable or likely law changes.
“While the Victorian government may argue that the details of the legislation are already public it must face up to the reality that it does not control the upper house of Parliament. The minority parties in the Legislative Council may expect amendments to the Bill in return for their support.
“It is likely that the Victorian government will get this legislation passed by Parliament only in mid-August. This would at best allow businesses just over two weeks to understand the final version of the legislation, review existing policies and procedures, consider safety obligations, work out potential costs, and train human resources staff and managers. This is the best case scenario.
“Disappointingly the home building industry has recent experience of the consequences of the Victorian government rushing to implement legislation to meet a political imperative,” added Mr Ryan.
“From 1 July 2026 the home building industry has had to deal with the troubled implementation of the Buyer Protection laws intended to improve consumer protection.
“Deficiencies in the legislation, which were only in part resolved by last minute legislation rushed through Parliament in June, have meant great uncertainty about the processes for home builders to obtain home warranty cover and make sure their clients have insurance for their home building projects.
“The Victorian government could not even provide industry with an up-to-date version of the Building Act on the commencement date of 1 July 2026. Instead, we had to wait until Thursday, 9 July 2026. In the meantime, anyone who wanted to understand their legal obligations and rights had to review and patch together multiple pieces of legislation.
“The Victorian government needs to slow down, take a deep breath, and take the time to reflect on the problems they will cause if they charge ahead,” concluded Mr Ryan.
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