The Coalition’s work from home policy has raised significant concerns in its ranks, with many taken by surprise and some criticising it as not “fully thought through”.

As the Liberals face an uphill battle to reclaim several blue-ribbon seats lost to the teals, there is growing worry inside the party that the policy will take it backwards in areas with high rates of working professional women.

Coalition insiders have expressed concerns to Guardian Australia that the policy was messaged poorly and had been misinterpreted by the public as affecting all workplaces – not just the public service.

The shadow finance and public service minister, Jane Hume, introduced the policy on 3 March, stating all public service workers would have to return to the office if the Coalition won government. “Exceptions can and will be made,” she said. “But they will be made where they work for everyone.”



Peter Dutton has appeared to walk back previous talk that all public service workers would have to return to the office if the Coalition won government. “That’s exactly what will happen if there’s a change of government after the election.”
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