Editorial: Peter Dutton’s WFH backflip may be turning point

Peter Dutton’s WFH backflip may be seen as a sign of weakness, setting the narrative for the weeks ahead, writes the editor.

When the final analysis of this federal election is written in the days following May 3, it is very possible Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s decision to backflip on his public servants working from home policy will be seen as a turning point.

As The Courier-Mail reports today, Mr Dutton will announce that he is ditching his promise to force 80 per cent of federal employees to return to the office full-time, saying “we have listened” after a backlash.

If, as the polls suggest, Mr Dutton loses the election and Anthony Albanese is returned to office, the backflip will be seen as a sign of weakness after a poor start to the campaign, setting the narrative for the weeks ahead.

If Mr Dutton is triumphant in the poll – or even if he cuts into the Prime Minister’s majority – the backflip would be seen as a brave decision to change the momentum early in the campaign, and paint Mr Dutton as a humble leader who is willing to listen to criticism.

Whether Mr Dutton can turn a negative into a positive will be his key challenge this week. But it is actually remarkable that he got himself into this position in the first place.

Last week Redbridge polling commissioned by The Courier-Mail found Mr Dutton was losing support from female voters, with his stance of working from home identified as a major factor.

Making public servants return to the office had a negative favourability rating among all Australians of -5, while for women specifically the unfavourability was -16.

Surely, with the protracted lead-up to the election, the Coalition could have found the time to commission its own polling on the issue. Or was it just content to listen to the loudest voices.

It is true that many Australians bemoan the rise of WFH since Covid – particularly business owners or “people managers”.

Peter Dutton has backtracked on his plan. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

But it is equally true that for many Australians, WFH arrangements have been a game-changer, cutting travel time and helping work-life balance.

Coalition public service spokeswoman Jane Hume said many public servants benefited from flexible working arrangements.

“We have listened and understand that flexible work, including working from home, is part of getting the best out of any workforce,” she said.

Mr Dutton has also continued to walk-back his earlier pledge to slash up to 41,000 public service jobs to save $6bn a year.

Today he will clarify that there will be no forced redundancies, with the Coalition reducing the federal workforce over five years through hiring freezes and natural attrition.

While the initial announcement of the cuts had a whiff of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency about it, Mr Dutton has moved to change the messaging – but the damage might have already been done.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Mr Albanese has gone on the attack.

“You’ve seen it before – Campbell Newman revisited is the sequel no one asked for,” Mr Albanese said on Sunday in a pointed message to Queenslanders.

Meanwhile, a Newspoll conducted for The Australian showed Labor currently leads the Coalition 52 to 48 on a two-party-preferred basis – the same as Anthony Albanese’s majority-winning 2022 election result.

If he is to win, Mr Dutton can’t afford any more mistakes.

OUR BEEF THE BEST

According to Premier David Crisafulli, his trade minister Ros Bates is “doing bloody well” finding alternative markets for Queensland graziers after US President Donald Trump introduced his nonsensical tariffs.

Australian exporters have learnt a lot about the importance of being nimble over the past few years, helped by equally nonsensical Chinese trade restrictions following perfectly legitimate questions about the origins of Covid by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Graziers are also having to cope with stock losses of up to 150,000 head from outback flooding.

Premier David Crisafulli has backed his Trade Minister. Picture Lachie Millard

It’s a shocking double-whammy, but it’s heartening to read the words of fourth-generation grazier Will Wilson in The Courier-Mail today.

Mr Wilson said he was worried about his peers in the flood zones, but ultimately he had faith in Queensland beef.

He said he was confident Americans would still buy our product, despite President Trump’s mark-up.

“It’s a real test how much they like our products,” he said.

They like our beef for the same reason we like our beef. It’s the best in the world, and when we find new markets, more people will know it.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: Peter Dutton’s WFH backflip may be turning point