Liberal MP James Newbury makes call to cut WFH arrangements for public servants

James Newbury has called on the state government to block working-from-home arrangements for public servants but remained tightlipped on whether the opposition would force workers back to the office if elected.

Shadow Treasurer James Newbury has called for the state government to mandate public servants return to working from their offices full-time. Picture: David Caird

Shadow treasurer James Newbury has called for the state government to mandate public servants return to working from their offices full-time.

But he has stopped short of announcing a formal opposition position on the issue, or detailing whether the Coalition would force workers back to their desks if they form government at the next election.

Mr Newbury said he was troubled by revelations in the Saturday Herald Sun that workers earning up to $400,000 a year were being recruited to the controversial Suburban Rail Loop project with generous working from home opportunities.

Shadow treasurer James Newbury has called for the state government to mandate public servants return to working from their offices full-time. Picture: iStock

“This government is expert in paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to back office bureaucrats who aren’t delivering any services for Victorians,” he said.

“That’s why this state economy is in the state it’s in and that’s why this state Labor government has collapsed our budget.

“Every public servant should be turning up to work.”

Mr Newbury said it smacked of hypocrisy that frontline police, nurses and paramedics were working overtime while thousands of back office staff had a “sweetheart deal” to work from home.

“We should be requiring public servants to work from the office,” he said.

Originally published as Liberal MP James Newbury makes call to cut WFH arrangements for public servants