There would be no discrimination against working from home, even from North East Victoria for a job in Canberra, under new rules proposed by Indi MP Cathy McGowan.
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She told parliament this week she supported decentralisation of public service jobs and was pleased 10 Murray Darling Basin Authority staff would be relocating to Wodonga.
But she wanted the idea to go a step further.
Under the proposed Public Service Amendment (Supporting a Regional Workforce) Bill, Ms McGowan called on “telecommuting” to be added to the employment principles.
This would mean the public service could not discriminate against people living in regional areas outside Canberra and would have to judge prospective employees on their merits.
“If the candidate is able to telecommute and meet the requirements of the position, with reasonable adjustments by the agency, then they should have the opportunity to do so,” Ms McGowan said.
“Telecommuting must be considered as a legitimate way to meet the requirements of the role from the start.”
The MP argued the change would benefit regional areas by enabling more people to remain in the region, and also “allow agencies to attract the best and the brightest”.
“In order for decentralisation to provide value, opportunity and benefit for those in both regional centres and small regional and rural towns, we need to consider decentralisation not simply in terms of bricks and mortar,” she said.
In a 2015 report, University of Canberra urban planning and design professor Richard Hu said telework was the way of the future, but cultural change was needed first.
The Australian Public Service Commission has said telework had not been considered for previous positions, which Ms McGowan called a missed opportunity.
“Imagine if, instead of forcing departmental heads to justify why they need to stay in Canberra and not be expelled to the regions – almost as a form of punishment – they were truly able to select from the best and brightest without geographical limitations by encouraging telecommuting,” she said.
The bill was seconded by Nick Xenophon Team MP Rebekha Sharkie and was adjourned for debate at a later date.