Adelaide Central Market chief Theo Maras blasts public servants working from home

The property magnate and Adelaide Central Market Authority chair’s comments follow Peter Dutton’s pledge to up end public sector work-from-home rules.

Property developer and Adelaide Central Market Authority chairman Theo Maras says a vibrant economy needs staff working in the city. Picture: Supplied,

SA property tycoon and Adelaide Central Market board chief Theo Maras has blasted rules letting public servants still work from home saying they must return to offices full time to create a vibrant state economy.

Mr Maras said “there is only one office” for workers and called for around 13,000 commonwealth public servants and around 120,000 state government staff to be denied work from home arrangements.

“If you want to have an economy and if you want to have an employment base and if you want to be employed then there has to be a critical mass in the city,” Mr Maras, who is a long-time former chair of the Rundle Mall Authority, said.

About 20 staff work in Mr Maras’s Rundle Street office and he said they bought coffee and food from nearby restaurants and cafes so they could survive.

Blefari Caffe and Cucina owner Michael Marinos said foot traffic at his Victoria Square business was down “30 to 40 per cent” since Covid. Picture: Dean Martin

His comments followed federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton saying he would force commonwealth public servants back to the office if his party wins the upcoming federal election.

The State of the Sector 2024 Report showed 17,284 SA public sector staff in June last year were working “remotely” either full or part time.

A government spokesperson said those working from home mainly were approved one or two days a week for reasons including domestic violence, having a disability, young children or a pregnancy.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minn told government staff they had to return to the office last August but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has remained open-minded saying working flexibility could help business growth and retain key workers.

An opinion rejected by Blefari Caffe & Cucina owner Michael Marinos who said Adelaide CBD businesses were “suffering” with too many public servants working from home since Covid lockdowns.

“If people are working from home, they don’t have to catch public transport, drive cars, which means mechanics, petrol stations, etc, etc, are losing business full stop,” Mr Marinos said.

His business near large government offices in Victoria Square had seen foot traffic drop by “30 to 40 per cent” since Covid.

“If people aren’t spending the money, it slows down the economy. So I think it’s terrible that people are working from home. No offence to them, but I think Covid just destroyed everything,” he said.

Recent data showed Gen Z workers wanted to return to full-time office work more than older workers as they were “craving the connection”, according to SA Business Chamber chief executive Andrew Kay.

However, Mr Kay said in private business many employers found flexible work offerings helped attract staff and in particular “bring women back into the office where they are the main carer in the family”.

“In the private sector, we are seeing the evolution of working from home, finding a balance between a model that offers flexibility for staff, but not at the expense of productivity or workplace culture,” he said.

Originally published as Adelaide Central Market chief Theo Maras blasts public servants working from home