Coalition’s pitch to change WFH policies would take a ‘blunt axe to equality’

Peter Dutton’s push to put a stop to working from home would hurt working women, Tassie experts say.

Peter Dutton proposes changes to working from home policy. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

There has been outcry over the Coalition’s proposed working from home policy, with many holding fears about a disproportionate impact on working women with health issues.

Earlier this month shadow finance and public service minister Jane Hume said the Coalition would mandate Commonwealth public servants to return to the office for five days a week if elected to government.

University of Tasmania reproductive and maternal health researcher Jennifer Ayton said the move constituted a “blunt axe to crush women’s equality”.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos – February 24 2025: Senator Jane Hume during the Finance and Public Administration Estimates at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Research tells us that employment flexibility improves productivity,” Dr Ayton said.

“It can support greater work-life balance and wellbeing, job performance, narrow the motherhood load and pay gap and increase participation of married or caring women.”

Regarding women living with reproductive health issues, Dr Ayton said removing or limiting employee flexibility would “regress any progress” made in reducing stigma or raising awareness of them within policymaking.

Unions Tasmania wants to go a step further, with the enshrining of 12 days of reproductive leave into the National Employment Standards to cover people experiencing symptoms of reproductive health matters including but not limited to menopause, IVF, polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.

Unions Tasmania Secretary Jessica Munday speaks to media about the proposed GBE privatisation. Picture: Linda Higginson

Secretary Jessica Munday said women living with the condition were “burning through” their sick leave, holidays, or taking unpaid leave to manage symptoms.

“It’s not a holiday when you’re sitting at home on strong medications covered in heat packs doing what you need to do to survive,” Ms Munday said.

“Taking unpaid leave obviously affects women’s retirement incomes, with many leaving the workplace earlier than they would otherwise.

“Reproductive leave is for all stages of life. Some will use it and some won’t, but we say it is an entitlement that would be valuable for everybody.”

So far, only a handful of workplaces nationwide have introduced reproductive leave.

In response to the story of Anneliese Heffernan, a health department spokesperson said they were committed to supporting all employees to find “reasonable and appropriate adjustments”.

“Employees are entitled to a range of leave options related to women’s health including, but not limited to, sick leave, bereavement/compassionate leave (which includes miscarriage and stillbirth), parental leave, surrogacy leave and disability leave,” they said.

But Dr Ayton said sick leave was being used to attend to reproductive health needs that were not illnesses, such as in the case of menstrual pain or menopause.

Women’s Legal Service Tasmania CEO Yvette Cehtel said it was “high time to recognise the health burden women experienced by virtue of being born female”.

When asked to address the union’s position, a state government spokesperson said it would “continue to do all (it could) to ensure that Tasmanian women living with endometriosis can access timely and affordable care within the state public health system”.

Originally published as Coalition’s pitch to change WFH policies would take a ‘blunt axe to equality’