Ms Patricia King:

I thank the Senator for the question. There are a few things to say here. One is that we have had feedback, much of which has come from the private sector because, as the Senator will know, in the public sector there is a phased return under way at the moment, which means people are taking part in arrangements for a phased return and there are discussions ongoing with the employer with regard to various aspects of that return, including remote working. However, this has not been conceded. I imagine the public sector employer is awaiting the progress of the legislation. That is an impediment. We are getting strong feedback from those workers that they want productive legislation that allows them to seek and, in reasonable circumstances, get a right to remote working.

On the private sector side, we have received feedback from our private sector committee suggesting there is a strong interest in this. The Senator will probably have picked up on this himself. Workers will vote with their feet on this, whether they are organised or unorganised. The labour market is tight and workers are going to have their own conditions with regard to seeking and finding jobs. The tables have turned a little bit. It is now not all about what the employer wants. Because of the tight labour market, workers have a different context and background. Their views as to what they want for work will have to be taken on board. Remote working during the pandemic has proven the value of such practices to people. It is very valuable to workers who can do it. That is not meant, in any way, to discount the pieces the employers have set out here this morning. There are issues that need to be answered.

We are not against having all those issues dealt with. We are not closed to it but there has to be a reasonable outcome. There should not be barriers to progressive legislation that allows workers to request and achieve remote working.