The premiers of New South Wales and Victoria have launched further angry attacks on each other over their work-from-home policies.
The row between Labor leaders was sparked when New South Wales Premier Chris Minns on Monday ordered all government employees to return to the office full-time the following day.
The sudden removal of flexible working arrangements that had been in place since the start of COVID lockdowns four years ago sparked a massive backlash from staff.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has sparked a war of words with her interstate counterpart by proposing to angry New South Wales staff they move south of the border.
Mr Minns criticised her comments before Ms Allan reignited the feud between the two leaders on Wednesday when she reaffirmed her stance of welcoming NSW government staff with open arms.
Premier Allan called Minns’ new directive obsolete, as it was later clarified that workers would only have to come into the office three days a week – the same rule in place for Victorian public servants.
“Let’s be clear, I have no plans to change our flexible working arrangements for the Victorian public service,” Premier Allan told reporters in Melbourne.
“And it seems that Chris Minns and NSW don’t know this either. It seems that we have pretty much the same flexible policy when it comes to our public service.
New South Wales government workers have been ordered to return to their offices from Tuesday.
Chris Minns (pictured) responded to criticism from Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, saying: “Frankly, with all the lockdowns in Melbourne, I would have thought a lot of people in Victoria would be desperate to get out of the house.”
‘This is important because it is an outcome that keeps women and men connected to their workforce, connected to their families and connected to their communities.
“So we will keep these arrangements flexible and it looks like New South Wales will too.”
Queensland Labor’s Steven Miles then weighed in on the controversy when he revealed he too will not force government staff to return to the office full-time.
“I have no plans at this time to change the current arrangements,” he said.
“I understand that New South Wales is in a slightly different situation to Queensland. Our economy remains strong and our central business district has recovered more strongly.”
The Queensland government is also looking to save money on office space, which was detailed in Treasurer Cameron Dick’s budget ahead of the upcoming election.
Mr Minns responded to Ms Allan on Tuesday following her initial comments.
“I’ve seen the Victorian government criticise New South Wales for this change. We’re not in favour of any change. We think it’s important for the public service in New South Wales,” he said.
“And at the end of the day, frankly, with all the lockdowns in Melbourne, I would have thought a lot of people in Victoria would be desperate to get out of the house, but that’s a matter for them.”
Jacinta Allan (pictured) encouraged disgruntled New South Wales workers to move to Victoria and work for her government.
The Prime Minister also reiterated the importance of government staff working in a suitable office environment.
“You can’t be a nurse in your gym clothes in the living room, and you can’t teach in your backyard while doing chores around the house,” Minns said.
“You have to be present and available and this is a reflection of the nature of public service and the nature of working for the taxpayers of the state.”
Several disillusioned NSW government officials took to social media to express their disappointment at Mr Minns’ demands.
“If this happens, we should make a concerted effort to bring in prepared food and boycott the mall locations,” one said.
Another said the government “can force staff to come to town,” but “cannot force them to buy things, coffee, lunch, etc., or to be proactive.”
NSW government staff who do not want to return to the office five days a week have been urged to move south of the border. Pictured: a deserted Sydney shopping centre
Ms Allan urged disgruntled NSW staff to consider moving to Victoria.
“Anyone who is even a little bit concerned about what’s going on over there in New South Wales is more than welcome to come and work for us here in Victoria,” he said.
“We have a big agenda – building more homes, delivering the commuter rail network, getting on with the things that are important to families – and they would be welcome to join in.”
The memo to NSW staff on Monday warned that agencies will “adopt a policy that all staff will primarily work at an approved worksite, office or related work site and will spread attendance across all days of the working week.”
Some workers could be exempt from the rule, but would be subject to “formal approvals and agreements” and a record would be created of “the reasons and circumstances”.