Victorian public servant Tim Ada earns almost $600K in plush work from home gig

One of the state’s most senior public servants is earning a salary of almost $600,000 while working from home, despite his hybrid working arrangement “stalling” critical work.

One of the state’s most senior public servants is continuing to work from home while on a salary of almost $600,000.

Whistleblowers inside the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions say Tim Ada’s hybrid working arrangement is “stalling” critical work.

The departmental secretary has come under fire for limiting face-to-face meetings and routinely spending working days at his country home.

“Some weeks he’s around more and some less – either way, it sends a message to all staff that we don’t need to come into the office despite commitments being made to stakeholders, CBD businesses and the local chambers of commerce by this government,” one source said.

“Public service staff and stakeholders are told that they can only have face-to-face meetings with the secretary a few days a week.

“Urgent matters stall when he’s not formally around.”

The source said productivity within the department had suffered because of working-from-home arrangements, with no expectation on staff to return to work.

“After Covid, everyone was paying attention to returning to the office,” the source said.

“It seems like nobody cares anymore even though Melbourne businesses are still struggling.

“We are the department for business but our secretary routinely works three days a week from home.

Victorian government public servant Tim Ada. Picture: Supplied

“He’s paid over $550k and works from home three days a week while businesses immediately around our building are closing.”

Mr Ada joined DJSIR in March, having served as a deputy secretary in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

He also worked as a deputy secretary in the former department of jobs, precincts and regions.

A government spokesman said that as a departmental secretary Mr Ada had a broad range of responsibilities across the state, and confirmed Mr Ada routinely worked from locations in regional Victoria and from home.

But they said over the past two weeks he had spent just one day working at home, and two travelling in regional Victoria meeting stakeholders and staff.

Shadow industry and skills minister Bridget Vallence called on the government to explain Mr Ada’s working arrangements.

“This is a key government department that has a vital role in growing Victoria’s economy, supporting businesses and creating new jobs,” she said.

The government’s flexible work policy allows employees to negotiate working conditions starting “with a position of three days a week in the office”.

But agreements on a case-by-case basis could see employees spending even fewer days at their desks.

Public servants are currently fighting for strengthened working-from-home provisions as part of a new enterprise agreement.

Originally published as Victorian public servant Tim Ada earns almost $600K in plush work from home gig