Greens Urge Dutton to Flip on Disconnect Rights

The Greens employment spokesperson, Barbara Pocock, has called on Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, to perform yet another policy backflip, this time on the right to disconnect (RTD). The Coalition has pledged to repeal the RTD legislation and take away the right of all Australian workers to 'knock off when they clock off' unless they are being compensated for working out of hours.

A YouGov poll earlier this year found 86% of Australians support the law including 75% of Coalition voters.

As stated by Senator Barbara Pocock:

"Scrapping the right to disconnect laws will add 100 minutes a week of unpaid overtime for the average worker. Thanks to the Greens, Australians now have the right to refuse out of hours contact allowing them to enjoy their lives outside of work without interruption.

"Australians love this new right, even Coalition voters love this right. This alone should be enough to push Dutton to the end of the diving board for another spectacular policy backflip. If he doesn't, Australian workers can look forward to a return to gifting 7 weeks per year of unpaid overtime to their boss, under a Dutton government.

"Dutton has shown his true colours in this election when he announced a ban on working from home for all public servants. Even though he rescinded the policy when it proved an electoral dud, he can't hide his innate distain for workers' rights.

"His promise to revoke the right-to-disconnect is another out-of-touch policy that promotes the interests of industry lobby groups over ordinary Australian workers. Dutton doesn't understand the modern workplace. It's diverse and flexible and allows women and those with caring responsibilities to participate in the workforce.

"Dutton is out of step with employers on this issue as well. A recent survey by Indeed showed 74% of Australian employers support the right to disconnect. This law has ignited a discussion between employers and workers about fairness and after-hours work. The same survey showed 55% of employers are now more willing to compensate staff working outside their normal hours.

"The right to disconnect is a win for everybody but Dutton insists on playing the tough guy on workers' rights to impress the right-wingers who keep saying the sky is about to fall. Well it's not, and ordinary Australians overwhelmingly endorse it as it gives them the ability to switch off from work and focus on family, friends and a rich fulfilling life outside of work."