Latest news with #RobertSimms
The Australian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Australian
SA Greens push for mandatory work-from-home day amid fierce opposition
A second Australian state is set to push for workers to be able to work from home one day a week; however, the move has not come without its detractors. MLC Robert Simms announced on Thursday the South Australian Greens were drafting a Bill to guarantee public sector staff could work from home (WFH) one day a week if it was 'reasonable', saying it would 'set a benchmark for the private sector'. Robert Simms is calling for South Australia to guarantee public sector staff can WFH one day a week. Picture Dean Martin His call comes after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced plans to legislate WFH protections for workers who could 'reasonably' carry out their duties from home. Ms Allan said the reform, which would make Victoria the first state to enshrine WFH legislation, was about recognising modern work patterns and protecting employees from having flexible arrangements arbitrarily revoked. 'It's working now, but we know that we need to protect it,' Ms Allan said on Today. 'We need to protect it for workers but also make it really clear for employers as well who are already doing this that working from home should be a right, not a request.' In SA, however, the move has been greeted largely with disapproval. Earlier this week, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC Radio that he would not support the proposed legislation. 'To mandate things, I think, runs the risk of having unintended consequences,' he said. 'And occasionally I think employers should have the ability to say, 'Look, we're paying you to do a particular task and this is where I need you to perform those tasks'.' Peter Malinauskas will not support WFH legislation. Picture Ben Clark Mr Simms claimed more staff working from home would negate travel time, cut traffic congestion and boost productivity, along with saving workers and families vital dollars. However, the SA Business Chamber has rejected the plan, saying legislation could drive a wedge between workers and hamper investment. Chamber chief executive Andrew Kay claimed current arrangements were working 'perfectly well where employers and employees negotiated WFH arrangements'. 'Enshrining WFH rights has the potential to drive a wedge in the workplace between the haves and the have nots,' he said. Legal experts revealed the Labor-Allan government's push to legislate WFH rights in the private sector were logistically almost impossible. Working from home has its benefits. Picture: iStock Stacks Law Firm special counsel Geoff Baldwin said a large number of workers in Victoria were already eligible to request flexible working arrangements, and any new legislation would be at risk of being 'struck down', as it would presumably be inconsistent with existing Commonwealth laws. 'It's hard to see what (the) Victorian (government) might do which would have any appreciable impact on the Victorian workforce as a whole,' he said. A SA government spokesperson added that 'the state government opposes any Peter Dutton-style attempts to ban working from home'. 'Working from home arrangements where practical are important in a modern workplace,' they said. 'These arrangements tend to work best where it is mutually agreed between employees and employers, which is why mandating such a practice through legislation is not being contemplated by the state government.' Read related topics: Greens
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
SA Greens push for mandatory work-from-home day amid fierce opposition
A second Australian state is set to push for workers to be able to work from home one day a week; however, the move has not come without its detractors. MLC Robert Simms announced on Thursday the South Australian Greens were drafting a Bill to guarantee public sector staff could work from home (WFH) one day a week if it was 'reasonable', saying it would 'set a benchmark for the private sector'. His call comes after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced plans to legislate WFH protections for workers who could 'reasonably' carry out their duties from home. Ms Allan said the reform, which would make Victoria the first state to enshrine WFH legislation, was about recognising modern work patterns and protecting employees from having flexible arrangements arbitrarily revoked. 'It's working now, but we know that we need to protect it,' Ms Allan said on Today. 'We need to protect it for workers but also make it really clear for employers as well who are already doing this that working from home should be a right, not a request.' In SA, however, the move has been greeted largely with disapproval. Earlier this week, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC Radio that he would not support the proposed legislation. 'To mandate things, I think, runs the risk of having unintended consequences,' he said. 'And occasionally I think employers should have the ability to say, 'Look, we're paying you to do a particular task and this is where I need you to perform those tasks'.' Mr Simms claimed more staff working from home would negate travel time, cut traffic congestion and boost productivity, along with saving workers and families vital dollars. However, the SA Business Chamber has rejected the plan, saying legislation could drive a wedge between workers and hamper investment. Chamber chief executive Andrew Kay claimed current arrangements were working 'perfectly well where employers and employees negotiated WFH arrangements'. 'Enshrining WFH rights has the potential to drive a wedge in the workplace between the haves and the have nots,' he said. Legal experts revealed the Labor-Allan government's push to legislate WFH rights in the private sector were logistically almost impossible. Stacks Law Firm special counsel Geoff Baldwin said a large number of workers in Victoria were already eligible to request flexible working arrangements, and any new legislation would be at risk of being 'struck down', as it would presumably be inconsistent with existing Commonwealth laws. 'It's hard to see what (the) Victorian (government) might do which would have any appreciable impact on the Victorian workforce as a whole,' he said. A SA government spokesperson added that 'the state government opposes any Peter Dutton-style attempts to ban working from home'. 'Working from home arrangements where practical are important in a modern workplace,' they said. 'These arrangements tend to work best where it is mutually agreed between employees and employers, which is why mandating such a practice through legislation is not being contemplated by the state government.'
West Australian
2 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
SA Greens push for mandatory work-from-home day amid fierce opposition
A second Australian state is set to push for workers to be able to work from home one day a week; however, the move has not come without its detractors. MLC Robert Simms announced on Thursday the South Australian Greens were drafting a Bill to guarantee public sector staff could work from home (WFH) one day a week if it was 'reasonable', saying it would 'set a benchmark for the private sector'. His call comes after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced plans to legislate WFH protections for workers who could 'reasonably' carry out their duties from home. Ms Allan said the reform, which would make Victoria the first state to enshrine WFH legislation, was about recognising modern work patterns and protecting employees from having flexible arrangements arbitrarily revoked. 'It's working now, but we know that we need to protect it,' Ms Allan said on Today. 'We need to protect it for workers but also make it really clear for employers as well who are already doing this that working from home should be a right, not a request.' In SA, however, the move has been greeted largely with disapproval. Earlier this week, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC Radio that he would not support the proposed legislation. 'To mandate things, I think, runs the risk of having unintended consequences,' he said. 'And occasionally I think employers should have the ability to say, 'Look, we're paying you to do a particular task and this is where I need you to perform those tasks'.' Mr Simms claimed more staff working from home would negate travel time, cut traffic congestion and boost productivity, along with saving workers and families vital dollars. However, the SA Business Chamber has rejected the plan, saying legislation could drive a wedge between workers and hamper investment. Chamber chief executive Andrew Kay claimed current arrangements were working 'perfectly well where employers and employees negotiated WFH arrangements'. 'Enshrining WFH rights has the potential to drive a wedge in the workplace between the haves and the have nots,' he said. Legal experts revealed the Labor-Allan government's push to legislate WFH rights in the private sector were logistically almost impossible. Stacks Law Firm special counsel Geoff Baldwin said a large number of workers in Victoria were already eligible to request flexible working arrangements, and any new legislation would be at risk of being 'struck down', as it would presumably be inconsistent with existing Commonwealth laws. 'It's hard to see what (the) Victorian (government) might do which would have any appreciable impact on the Victorian workforce as a whole,' he said. A SA government spokesperson added that 'the state government opposes any Peter Dutton-style attempts to ban working from home'. 'Working from home arrangements where practical are important in a modern workplace,' they said. 'These arrangements tend to work best where it is mutually agreed between employees and employers, which is why mandating such a practice through legislation is not being contemplated by the state government.'
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
‘Drive a wedge': Divide over WFH laws
A second Australian state is set to push for workers to be able to work from home one day a week; however, the move has not come without its detractors. MLC Robert Simms announced on Thursday the South Australian Greens were drafting a Bill to guarantee public sector staff could work from home (WFH) one day a week if it was 'reasonable', saying it would 'set a benchmark for the private sector'. Robert Simms is calling for South Australia to guarantee public sector staff can WFH one day a week. Picture Dean Martin Credit: NewsWire His call comes after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced plans to legislate WFH protections for workers who could 'reasonably' carry out their duties from home. Ms Allan said the reform, which would make Victoria the first state to enshrine WFH legislation, was about recognising modern work patterns and protecting employees from having flexible arrangements arbitrarily revoked. 'It's working now, but we know that we need to protect it,' Ms Allan said on Today. 'We need to protect it for workers but also make it really clear for employers as well who are already doing this that working from home should be a right, not a request.' In SA, however, the move has been greeted largely with disapproval. Earlier this week, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC Radio that he would not support the proposed legislation. 'To mandate things, I think, runs the risk of having unintended consequences,' he said. 'And occasionally I think employers should have the ability to say, 'Look, we're paying you to do a particular task and this is where I need you to perform those tasks'.' Peter Malinauskas will not support WFH legislation. Picture Ben Clark Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Simms claimed more staff working from home would negate travel time, cut traffic congestion and boost productivity, along with saving workers and families vital dollars. However, the SA Business Chamber has rejected the plan, saying legislation could drive a wedge between workers and hamper investment. Chamber chief executive Andrew Kay claimed current arrangements were working 'perfectly well where employers and employees negotiated WFH arrangements'. 'Enshrining WFH rights has the potential to drive a wedge in the workplace between the haves and the have nots,' he said. Legal experts revealed the Labor-Allan government's push to legislate WFH rights in the private sector were logistically almost impossible. Working from home has its benefits. iStock Credit: Supplied Stacks Law Firm special counsel Geoff Baldwin said a large number of workers in Victoria were already eligible to request flexible working arrangements, and any new legislation would be at risk of being 'struck down', as it would presumably be inconsistent with existing Commonwealth laws. 'It's hard to see what (the) Victorian (government) might do which would have any appreciable impact on the Victorian workforce as a whole,' he said. A SA government spokesperson added that 'the state government opposes any Peter Dutton-style attempts to ban working from home'. 'Working from home arrangements where practical are important in a modern workplace,' they said. 'These arrangements tend to work best where it is mutually agreed between employees and employers, which is why mandating such a practice through legislation is not being contemplated by the state government.'
ABC News
03-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
New child protection laws pass South Australian parliament
The South Australian government has passed new child protection laws after securing enough support from the state's crossbench. Greens MLC Robert Simms and independent MLC Frank Pangallo on Tuesday signalled their support for the government's Children and Young People (Safety and Support) Bill, which proposes several reforms to the state's child protection and family support systems. The bill passed with amendments in the upper house on Tuesday night, which secured the passage of the legislation through parliament. Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said the legislation "elevates the voices of children in decisions about their lives" and "puts maximum effort into reunifying children with their families where that's safe and right". "It enshrines the safety principle which ensures the safety of the child must always be the priority in determining whether or not to remove a child or young person from their family," she told the ABC on Wednesday morning. "It empowers Aboriginal families to lead decision-making about their children." Mr Simms said the Greens have secured some amendments that "strengthen the reunification principle" and the importance of keeping families together where possible. The bill has previously faced criticisms from stakeholders in the sector, including from SA's Guardian for Children and Young People, Shona Reid, who said the reforms do not comply with United Nations conventions.
