‘We’re not going to give all that up’: Melburnians erupt amid fears WFH could be axed for entire city

A bitter fight is brewing in Melbourne after an AFL great running for lord mayor vowed to force workers back into the office and put an end to WFH.

A bitter fight is brewing over the future of work from home after an AFL star running for Melbourne’s lord mayor vowed to force workers back into the office.

Carlton FC great Anthony Koutoufides last week announced he would be running as an independent in the city’s upcoming lord mayor race.

The 51-year-old father-of-three said his “first priority” would be sending Melbourne’s huge government and corporate workforce back into the city.

“We will work with the state government to introduce new laws that government and corporate workers must work at least four days a week in their office to enliven the city,” he said.

The bold proposal – which comes as 450,000 government workers continue to erupt over a similar directive to ditch WFH in NSW – sparked instant backlash.

A bitter fight is brewing over the future of work from home in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari was scathing in his criticism of the proposal, saying the Lord Mayor of Melbourne had “no right or ability” to intervene in working arrangements between workers and employers.

“Since the pandemic many city-based workers have developed new ways of working that better serve the needs of their families, increase productivity and reduce stress,” he told news.com.au.

“We’re not going to give all that up for Anthony Koutoufites or anyone.

“Workers decide how we spend our money. Ideas to force people back to the CBD to subsidise unsuccessful city businesses will only come at the expense of local small businesses in the suburbs.”

Leading pollster Kos Samaras took to X in the wake of the ambitious election promise, revealing 47 per cent of Australians worked from home at least once per week in 2023.

“This has since increased, in some inner parts of our large cities, like the City of Melbourne, (where) 45 per cent are working in a ‘hybrid’ working environment. So over 45,000 residents,” he wrote.

“Remote workers save two hours per week in commute time and hundreds of dollars in travel expenses every month.

“An important point during a cost of living crisis.”

Anthony Koutoufides declared he will run for Melbourne lord mayor. He said his ‘first priority’ would be getting workers back into the office. Picture: David Crosling

Koutoufides had a long AFL career (above, in 1988) before deciding to put his hat in the ring for politics. Picture: Supplied

Everyday Victorians were equally apprehensive, flooding social media with criticism of the proposal.

“If they are so insistent on employees not working from home perhaps they can pay their travel costs and travel time each working day of the year,” wrote one woman.

“Such a waste of time and money.”

“This disproportionately impacts workers with carer responsibilities - ie mostly women. Flexible working is a feminist issue,” agreed another.

Not all of the reaction was negative though.

“I lead a team of engineers in Melbourne. We have requested people spend 50% of time in the office. I believe this is reasonable,” one manager wrote on X.

“WFH (full time) long term does not work well with young staff who require mentoring to help their development.

“It also doesn’t promote the benefits that you get from a few hours off email, away from the laptop and having face to face discussions.”

Others said it was important to consider retail and hospitality staff who had lost their jobs due to decreased foot traffic in the CBD.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra said “business would like to see more people in the CBD”.

“If we can make the City cleaner, safer and more accessible we will naturally see a rise in the number of people wanting to be in that environment, which is a good thing for business,” he told news.com.au.

“Only employers can mandate a return to the office for their staff. The State Government has the authority and power to enforce its three day in the office minimum or increase the number of days its workforce must attend the office.

Mr Guerra urged the City of Melbourne to lead the way and “mandate their employees to be back in the office full time.”

The proposal to force Melburnians back into the office a minimum of four days a week sparked backlash online. (Stock image.)

The Victorian Government has already insisted it won’t change its directives to staff.

“We have no plans to roll back the existing flexible working arrangements,” a statement from Premier Jacinta Allan’s office declared earlier this month.

“We know that flexibility in the workplace helps more women stay in work and more women in the workforce is better for everyone.

“Any public servants from New South Wales who like flexibility in their workplace should consider moving to Victoria.”

In an interview on Triple M radio on Tuesday, Ms Allan boasted about new data revealing foot traffic in Melbourne had returned to pre-Covid levels.

“We are now back with better than pre-pandemic levels during the weekday, in terms of the number of people moving around the city,” she said.

“We have sensors that track foot traffic, so we can get a sense of how to manage the foot traffic.

“And we are back at and better than 2019 levels. The busiest day before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and after the pandemic is Friday.

“I think it’s important that putting aside political views or what else might be going on: let’s just back our city in, back in all those restaurants, and traders, and people who work around the city, who are absolutely supporting a pumping city.”