In a strong rebuke to Coalition proposals, the Federal Government has made it clear that forcing Australian public servants to work in the office five days a week will not follow a US-style model. Finance and Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher dismissed attempts to mirror the Trump Administration’s approach, emphasizing that Australia’s public sector operates under an entirely different framework.
Disputing Claims on Remote Work Productivity
During a recent speech at the Menzies Research Centre, shadow finance minister Jane Hume cited a Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research report claiming that remote work arrangements reduce productivity by up to 20 percent for fully remote employees. However, Minister Gallagher countered this narrative by highlighting that the same report indicates that hybrid work models—combining office and home environments—actually boost productivity. Gallagher argued that Hume’s reliance on anecdotal evidence was more about generating headlines than presenting substantive, evidence-based policy.
Debating Public Service Work Arrangements
Senator Hume has warned that a government led by Peter Dutton would strip public servants of their “blank cheque” to work from home, mandating a strict five-day office routine for all members of the Australian Public Service (APS). Hume criticized the current APS enterprise agreement, suggesting that some employees are exploiting flexible work arrangements. One example cited involved a public servant who reportedly worked remotely five days a week while traveling across Australia in a campervan with their family, rendering them uncontactable and unreliable.
Senator Gallagher, however, questioned the reliability of such anecdotal claims. She urged for concrete evidence to back up these assertions, noting that the existing policies already include safeguards to prevent misuse of work-from-home arrangements—a practice that has been consistent across successive governments.
A Call for Australian-Centric Policies
In subsequent media appearances, Senator Gallagher accused the Coalition of trying to emulate American policies in a bid to secure votes, remarking that policies suitable for the United States are not necessarily applicable to Australia. Gallagher stressed the benefits of flexible work arrangements, pointing out that remote work has enabled the APS to tap into talent from regional and rural areas and helped modern working families balance multiple priorities. To ensure these benefits are maintained, she has requested a review of current working-from-home policies by the Public Service Commission. Feedback from managers, she noted, has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting that these arrangements are key to recruitment, retention, and meeting operational needs.
