New legislation introduced to Parliament today (16 June) will enshrine remote work entitlements in the state's equal opportunity framework, effective 1 September

Victoria has become the first Australian jurisdiction to give workers a legislated right to work from home, with the Allan Labor Government today introducing a bill that will amend the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) to guarantee eligible employees two remote working days per week.

The law is set to come into effect from 1 September 2026, with a delayed commencement of 1 July 2027 for workplaces with fewer than 15 employees, to allow smaller employers more time to update their human resources policies and procedures.

The legislation applies to Victorians whose roles can reasonably be performed from home, and will cover regular casual and part-time workers. Guidance on how pro-rata entitlements will apply is expected ahead of the September commencement date.

The decision to enshrine the right within Victoria's anti-discrimination framework rather than through industrial legislation carries significant implications for how disputes will be resolved. Because the Victorian Government cannot amend Commonwealth legislation, it has instead proposed changes to the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic), which falls within state jurisdiction. As a result, disputes relating to the right to work from home will be addressed through the Victorian equal opportunity framework rather than by the Fair Work Commission.

Under the new...

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