My adjournment is for the Treasurer in the other place in her capacity as Minister for Industrial Relations, and the action I seek is that the minister update me on our government’s efforts to enshrine the ability to work from home at least two days a week as a right for those Victorians who can. Whilst it is true that not everyone can work from home – I get that, we all get that – being able to do so does work for everyone. That is something we have heard from an overwhelming number of Victorians – over 36,000 in fact – who responded to our surveys, and they said this is something that they would really like to see happen.

We have heard so many stories about folks who found the benefits of being able to work flexibly, whether they need to be at home for a plumber, electrician, making repairs or the kids when they are home sick from school or like last month when we had our hottest day on record, avoiding having to go out in that very, very dangerous heat. I have heard similar stories when I have been out in the electorate talking to folks who themselves are working from home. It is always a very embarrassing moment out doorknocking: you knock on the door, and you can hear this shuffling around, and someone runs out and they say, ‘Yes, how can I help you? I’m on a Zoom meeting. I’m working from home.’ And I always sort of slip in there, ‘I’m here to tell you that we’re going to make it a right,’ before they have to dash back to the Zoom meeting. But working from home is really important and really popular right across communities here in Victoria. People keep asking me: why are we doing this? Where is the legislation? And I cannot wait.

There are so many different reasons why this idea and this policy and what we are doing here stacks up, because for us, we know that we are on the side of working families and people right across Victoria who are looking for that guaranteed flexibility at least twice a week. It saves all Victorians time; it saves them money, which is why I know folks in my electorate would greatly appreciate an update from the minister on where we are at with drafting these reforms.