PM and NSW Premier Clash on Public Service Work-From-Home Policies
A significant policy divergence between federal and state Labor governments emerged today as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns articulated contrasting approaches to public service work arrangements.
Speaking at the Hay Street Markets opening, Minns directly acknowledged the differences between his administration's requirement for NSW public servants to spend the majority of their week in physical workplaces and the federal policy on remote work.
"I'm not going to pretend to all of you here today that our policy is exactly the same as the Commonwealth Government's. They're different," Minns stated firmly, emphasizing his government's requirement for NSW public servants to spend the majority of their week in physical workplaces.
The Premier justified his stricter approach by highlighting the composition of the NSW public service, noting that "85% of frontline workers, 85% of the public service in New South Wales are frontline workers" who cannot perform their duties remotely.
While acknowledging these differences, Both leaders united in criticizing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's inconsistent stance on public service work arrangements, with Minns delivering a particularly pointed assessment.
"How can we trust this bloke if his policies have got the lifespan of warm yogurt? There's a use-by date on everything he says," Minns remarked, contrasting this with what he characterized as the Prime Minister's consistency.
Albanese defended his more flexible federal approach while attacking Dutton's proposed 41,000 public service cuts, arguing they would primarily impact frontline services, such as healthcare workers and emergency responders, rather than Canberra-based bureaucrats, effectively turning the conversation toward job security rather than work locations.
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