Close Menu
    Government says people can 'make the call' on work from home amid fuel supply concerns
    Australia

    Government says people can ‘make the call’ on work from home amid fuel supply concerns

    Share.
    View 50 Comments

    50 Comments

    3. CommonwealthGrant on

      TLDR

      Asked about the prospect of urging more Australians to work from home, Industry Minister Tim Ayres said people would make their own decisions.

      “Work from home is a viable option for many, many people, and they’ll make that call,” he told ABC News on Monday. “We’re not going further than that.”

    4. insty1 on

      > “But it doesn’t help small businesses. It certainly doesn’t help the truckers and the fishers and the farmers and the manufacturers and the miners that are relying on fuel supply.”

      Except people using and buying less fuel does help those industries with their fuel supply.

    5. B_starz on

      What a joke of a government.

      Australian people “Hey we can immediately cut fuel usage by getting people who can work from home to do so, but we need your to help”.

      Government “Best we can do is suggest that it in the power of the people not the employers”

      What are they afraid it will do?

    6. ScruffyPeter on

      What a stupid myth that RTO is pro-business when that’s false. People WFH will get their coffee from a local cafe instead of in the city.

      Workers, give your employer the option to deal with extra car costs, ask for a raise or WFH

      Also, join your union. Make sure your union compares parties, not default to Labor because they want to be a career Labor pollie that says stupid shit like how it’s up to the workers on whether they can WFH.

    8. Jerrachi on

      I would absolutely love to work from home but I can’t make the call, only my employer can.

    10. Frozefoots on

      Fucking spineless. **EMPLOYERS** decide, not employees. One of the biggest employers is Chris Minns and he’s in the property/business lobby’s bed. You are *federal*, YOU make the call.

      Stop kowtowing to the business and property lobbies, they’re not going to fucking feed us. The less people on the road, the less demand for fuel, the more fuel that can go to those that need it the most.

      Get your bloody finger out. It’s not just to save a lot of people a good bit of money (which imo is a good enough reason on its own), it’s about fuel security for those who keep Australia going.

    11. Carmageddon-2049 on

      So it’s the employee’s responsibility lolz.
      That’s one way to increase unemployment

    12. Jealous-Hedgehog-734 on

      Won’t somebody think of the commercial landlords!

      I might start going to the office if no one else is, nice and quiet and I can get some work done.

    14. CutMeLoose79 on

      Covid – ‘You are now forced to work from home’ – People whinge and complain about it.

      Fuel crisis – ‘Ok, we won’t force you to work from home’ – People whinge and complain about it.

    16. ihlaking on

      Without putting too finer point on it, power is rarely given up once people have it. This is clearly trying to not give ammunition to the opposition and hostile media before a crucial state election for a stale government (Vic) and the next federal election. 

      Unless *forced* to, most employers will not give up their working from the office strategies. This is a question of bold leadership, and right now we’re not seeing it. Get ahead of the curve, Labor. We know you’re reading these comments in come form – people are hurting, and reducing fuel consumption will make a huge difference to their budgets right now. Total WFH isn’t needed, just a rule like only one day max travelling. 

      Essentially it looks like out in place now or be forced to soon. Trump’s ego won’t let him quit, so be ready for further pain. 

    17. Scriptosis on

      Lol pretty sure the only state where employees have any say in WFH is Victoria and that’s very recent.

    18. CommonwealthGrant on

      I’m going to tell my boss I’m going to work from home.

      I suspect he’s going to tell me to fuck off.

      I’m going to tell him that Industry Minister Tim Ayres told me it was my decision

      Should be an interesting discussion. Wish me luck!

    19. HankSteakfist on

      So, the big businesses will make the call and their call will be to send us into the office, unless they’re compelled by the government through regulation.

      Unless you’re going to compel or incentivise businesses, then there’s not much bloody point in urging us to work from home. The choice isn’t ours.

    21. -Metagross- on

      If government doesn’t lead, private enterprise will do whatever the hell they please.

    23. SlackoJacko on

      Could they at minimum direct federal public servants to do so?

      100% of employers give or take will either ignore this suggestion or have come up with some nonsense in their head of why they’re special and exempt.

      It honestly just comes off as pathetic, “pwetty pwease work from home”.

      > Thailand has told public servants to work from home and use stairs to limit energy use. Pakistan’s government said 50 per cent of office staff will work from home, except in essential services, while government offices will operate four days a week.

      Maybe like, do that?

    25. Millicent- on

      I wasn’t even allowed to WFH during covid lol (office job) so no chance it’s going to happen now. I’ve just started riding my bike to work instead, which I will continue to do as long as the weather isn’t too crazy.

    26. TheSnoz on

      I’m interested to see the outrage when you see people dragging caravans and boats everywhere on the Easter long weekend.

      My neighbour has his f150 and massive 5th wheel caravan ready to go.

      If fuel restrictions do come in. It won’t be until after Easter.

    27. TheTurino on

      “We want to advise the public that we know what should be the right call, however we really don’t want to annoy the business class so we’re going to trust the selfish as a characteristic of their class employers to make the decision on work from home”

    28. Silly-Violinist172 on

      I work in accounting and we can definitely work from home. I brought it up to my manager multiple times, nobody is interested in setting me up. Yeah please tell employers first.

    29. RheimsNZ on

      What? Implementing a WFH mandate or even a recommendation would go so far towards helping so many people directly or indirectly with this fuel crisis, it’s ridiculous. It’s so obvious.

      What a tragically useless response

    30. wallysimmonds on

      Expecting this government to give anything but a position from the fence on the issues that actually matter is a bit optimistic

    31. altandthrowitaway on

      How can we if our workplace mandates X amount of office days? It needs to be a national employment standard, not just relying on an employer potentially letting you WFH.

    32. Llamadrugs on

      Weak statement from a weak governemnt. Wasn’t expecting anything better.

      Think they worried about the backlash similar to wfh from covid

    33. AutomaticMistake on

      I’m in a position where I can WFH whenever I want.. and I think this is completely fucking spineless.

    34. WokSmith on

      A disappointing, wishy washy pathetic buck passing response from Labor.
      They’re so scared of pissing off the business lobby that it’s beyond pathetic.

    35. recurecur on

      Weak useless albo always got the interests of uncompetitive capitalists in Australia over any fucking Australian.

    37. SuccessfulNews2330 on

      If they say it then may they have to pay for it? I.e. small businesses etc that are impacted if cities empty out, redundancies etc. I’m not sure if thats the case but may be a factor.

    40. DarkscytheX on

      Businesses need a stick – saying people can “make the call” is a joke as a company won’t give up control willingly.

      They need to make an order as companies won’t do the socially responsible thing unless it’s profitable.

    41. sliemmmas on

      Read: we neither want to upset business lobby groups nor be seen to commit to anything. Your call. Also, vote for us.

    42. ElApple on

      Man this government really is a wet pool noodle.

      Scary these people are in power during such a time of uncertainty.

    43. Purple_Whale_218 on

      I CAN’T MAKE THE CALL UNLESS YOU MANDATE MY EMPLOYER TO LET ME MAKE THE CALL UGH

    46. AForestPath on

      Government showing how they can’t make a decision again and skirt from doing anything; again.
      Why do we pay you?

    47. No-File-2329 on

      Brother i work as a metal finisher, working from home isn’t even an option, thanks tho I guess.

    48. FormalMango on

      I can’t work from home. My work is at my workplace.

      And I can’t take public transport because my work is outside of public transport hours.