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After locking in a five-day return-to-office mandate for public sector workers as a major campaign policy, Peter Dutton has walked back his “one-size-fits-all” decision, labelling it a “mistake”.
The timeline of Coalition leader Peter Dutton’s proposed RTO mandate policy applying to all public sector workers has been embroiled in backtracking, backlash, and now a major backflip, with the opposition party scrapping the policy entirely.
What started as a staunch recall of public servants – eerily similar to an early executive order implemented by US President Donald Trump – has now morphed into an apology tour to the Australian public featuring the Coalition calling the policy “a mistake”.
It was only a few weeks ago that shadow minister for the public service Jane Hume argued that the Albanese government gave public servants “a blank cheque” to work from home.
Hume said WFH had severely impacted productivity and that the current flexible arrangements were “unsustainable”.
“This government has given public servants a blank cheque to work from home,” Hume said.
“Led by the Community and Public Sector Union, Labor has made work from home a right for the individual, not an arrangement that works for all.”
Notably, the policy proposal was met with swift resistance from not only public sector workers, but employees spread right across the Australian workforce who have come to appreciate the numerous benefits of flexible working arrangements.
The backlash, which featured accusations of the Coalition disregarding women workers and workers with disabilities, eventually led to various amendments of the policy, with it being subsequently limited to Canberra-based employees before being scrapped altogether.
“We’re listening to what people have to say. We’ve made a mistake in relation to the policy. We apologise for that,” Dutton told Nine.
Following Dutton’s comments, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor claimed that the policy proposal was hijacked by a "dishonest scare campaign" orchestrated by Labor.
“It's always a tough balance to get right between accountability and efficiency of any workforce, and at the same time making sure we've got flexibility,” Taylor said.
“Flexibility really matters in a modern workforce. We want the public service to be the best it can possibly be … Their flexibility matters too in a modern workforce, and so we've adjusted this.”
“There was a very dishonest scare campaign running from Labor, of course, that this was across the whole of the private sector workforce, which clearly isn't what we're talking about. We're talking here about public service.”
‘Flexibility in the workplace has become non-negotiable’
The backflip demonstrates what various workplace experts across Australia have been constantly mentioning as the rise of RTO mandates begins to come into fruition, stating that flexibility is no longer a “perk” but a “necessity.”
“It’s clear that Australians’ preference for flexibility in the workplace has become non-negotiable, and the Coalition’s recent reversal on the push for a return to the office is a direct reflection of that,” Damien Andreasen, vice president of HiBob APJ, said.
“The backlash to mandatory office returns shows just how much employees now value the flexibility they've gained. Whether it’s concerning the public service or the wider Australian workforce, it’s becoming increasingly clear the future of work lies in flexibility, and policies that ignore that are simply out of touch.”
Prabha Nandagopal, founder of SafeSpace@elevate, said the backflip exemplified how the one-size-fits-all approach is no longer applicable.
“Peter Dutton’s backflip demonstrates that flexibility isn’t a 'perk', it’s a necessity, especially in a cost-of-living crisis.”
“For many, working from home even part of the week means saving hundreds of dollars and hours in commuting costs, after-school care, etc. It also supports carers, people with disabilities, single parents and others who are too often left out of rigid, one-size-fits-all workplaces.”
“We need to stop using flexibility as a political football. Workers are making it clear: they want the freedom to do their jobs well without sacrificing wellbeing, safety, or financial stability.”
The opportunities that flexibility has afforded women workers, especially, were a major reason for the unpopularity of Dutton’s policy.
“This backflip shows what working Australians have been saying all along — flexibility isn’t a perk, it’s a core expectation,” Gemma Lloyd, co-founder and chief executive of WORK180, said.
“In our latest What Women Want report, flexibility was ranked the number one most in-demand benefit by women when considering a new role. Forcing people back into the office without genuine business need undermines trust, harms productivity, and risks driving out experienced talent — especially women.”
Dr Gleb Tsipursky, chief executive of hybrid work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts, said flexibility has become a “cultural battleground” highlighting the power that worker expectations can hold – especially in the midst of an election.
“Initially, the Coalition's policy required all Australian public servants to return to the office full-time if elected, raising concerns about its impact on flexible work arrangements, particularly for women, carers, and people with disabilities.”
“The backflip on return-to-office shows one thing clearly: employees now see flexibility as non-negotiable, not optional. Dutton's decision highlights how political leaders can’t afford to be out of step with employee expectations, especially when an election is looming.”
“Flexible work isn't just a workplace policy – it’s now a cultural battleground. Australians have tasted the benefits of flexibility, like better work-life balance and productivity, and they're not letting go.”
Leaders who don't adapt to this reality risk both public backlash and voter support. This policy reversal is a lesson for any leader considering a rigid approach: flexibility has moved from a benefit to a baseline.”
Kace O'Neill
Kace O'Neill is a Graduate Journalist for HR Leader. Kace studied Media Communications and Maori studies at the University of Otago, he has a passion for sports and storytelling.
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