Australian opposition abandons promise to ban WFH and cut 41,000 jobs
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Canberra: In a major policy shift, Australia's opposition party has dropped its plan to end work-from-home arrangements for public servants and cut 41,000 bureaucratic jobs, just ahead of the general election.
Peter Dutton, leader of the Opposition coalition, announced the policy shift on Monday, admitting the party "made a mistake" and "got it wrong" with the plan that had proved unpopular with voters.
He said a coalition government will maintain the current flexible working arrangements for federal public servants, including work-from-home policies, without making any changes.
Instead of cutting 41,000 public service jobs to reduce government spending, Dutton said that a coalition government would reduce the public service workforce over five years through hiring freezes and not always replacing workers who retire or resign.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labour Party criticised Peter Dutton's plan to slash the public service workforce, labelling it "Trumpian" and warning it could cause significant delays in payments to welfare recipients and veterans.
Albanese said on Monday that the ability to work from home was beneficial for Australian families, Xinhua news agency reported.
"Many parents work full-time while making time for family. And with cost-of-living pressures, many families can't afford it any other way," he said.
"Peter Dutton and the coalition want to end that flexibility, and it would have real consequences for Australian families."
Dutton's decision to scrap the policy follows a recent opinion poll published on Sunday night that found Labour is on track to win a second term in power in the May 3 election.
Labour is currently leading the Coalition 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis, according to the Newspoll survey published by News Corp Australia newspapers. If the election results in a hung parliament, where neither party secures the required 76 seats, Labour and the Coalition will need to negotiate with minor parties and independents to form a minority government.
(inputs from IANS)