Guaranteed WFH rights for millions of Aussies on knife edge under new leader

By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 09:34, 29 July 2026 | Updated: 09:34, 29 July 2026 The new Victorian Premier appears to have changed his tune on one of former leader Jacinta Allan's groundbreaking policies. Ben Carroll refused to guarantee that Victoria's controversial work-from-home laws will remain unchanged under his leadership in stark contrast to his previous comments passionately backing the change. Speaking at his second press conference since taking office, he declined when asked to fully back new legislation that grants employees the broad right to work from home for two days a week. Powerful business groups have fiercely opposed the proposal, arguing it was developed without adequate consultation and would set a reckless precedent.  'That legislation is before parliament, and I have nothing to answer or say on that today,' Carroll said. 'Work from home is good for families and it is good for workers.' The remarks are strikingly different from Carroll's stance 12 months ago, when he was one of the legislation's strongest supporters. 'If you can do your job from home, you should have the right to. The Allan Labor Government will protect the right to work from home in legislation - making it easier for families to juggle life and work,' he said at the time. Ben Carroll (pictured) did not rule out amendments to Labor's work from home legislation The draft laws remain before the state Parliament, and could still be amended or even withdrawn.  The policy was a centrepiece of Allan's agenda and expected to become a key election battleground with the Coalition, echoing Labor's playbook in the 2025 federal election. The legislation was widely criticised when announced, with Tim Piper, the head of the Australian Industry Group Victoria, branding it 'unnecessary' and 'burdensome'. 'The only reasonable conclusion is that this legislation is politically motivated ahead of the next election, rather than designed to strengthen the Victorian economy or encourage investment,' Mr Piper said. Carroll has signalled, both publicly and privately, that he intends to make the government more business-friendly, following significant backlash and unrest within Victoria's business community over the Allan Government's policies. He is already facing Opposition claims he is becoming 'Backflip Ben' and 'two-faced' after just two days in office. On Wednesday, the Coalition introduced a bill to establish workplace protection orders for retail workers, allowing courts to ban violent offenders from returning to stores where attacks occurred. Just hours earlier, Carroll had pledged to introduce workplace protection orders under a future Labor scheme, before Labor MPs voted down the Coalition's bill. Jess Wilson (pictured) and the Coalition have targeted Carroll, dubbing him 'backflip Ben'  Opposition Leader Jess Wilson seized on the contradiction. 'The new Premier stood up this morning and said one of his first acts as Premier would be to provide workplace protection orders to retail workers across Victoria. Yet an hour later he walked into Parliament and voted against legislation that would have provided those protections immediately.' Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury lashed the new Premier. 'Premier Ben Carroll is simply two-faced. There's no other way to say it.' The criticism comes after Carroll's decision to contest the leadership despite insisting in June he would not challenge Allan, citing his family as a reason for his loyalty. 'I've got a young daughter at home and I couldn't be more proud to make sure she grows up knowing I supported Jacinta Allan,' he said at the time.