Business groups are united in calling on the Victorian Government to withdraw the flawed work from home legislation, following confirmation the Premier plans to press ahead this week.
We acknowledge the Premier’s willingness to consult with business groups. However, despite Premier Ben Carroll offering a significant range of amendments, those amendments do not fix a fundamentally flawed law that will risk Victoria’s economy and send jobs interstate.
The Bill should be abandoned, and no amendment can fix its fundamental problems.
We consider that the passing of this legislation leaves the Government’s commitment to “grow the economy” in tatters.
There is no clear plan to turn around Victoria’s deteriorating economic performance, which puts it behind every other state in the nation.
Victoria already has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and at a time when households and businesses are under pressure, Victoria neither needs nor wants this legislation.
Today the Property Council of Australia released independent constitutional law advice finding the bill is inconsistent with the Fair Work Act and would be rendered invalid under the Australian Constitution.
This raises serious questions about whether the Government is proceeding with legislation that may not withstand legal scrutiny.
Simply put, the passage of this bill would threaten jobs, discourage investment and add costs Victoria cannot afford.
Joint statement on behalf of:
About us: Australian Retail Council (ARC) represents a $444 billion sector that employs 1.4 million Australians across metropolitan, regional, and remote communities – making retail the largest private sector employer in the country and a significant contributor to the Australian economy. Our membership spans the full spectrum of Australian retail, from family-owned small and independent retailers that make up 95% of our membership, through to our largest national and international retailers that employ thousands of Australians and support both metropolitan and regional communities every day.
