Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading amendment, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). The amendment was introduced by South Australian Senator Barbara Pocock (Greens).

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) reforms to work from home arrangements are long overdue,

(ii) all employees should have the right to work from home for up to two days a week where practical; and

(b) calls on the Government to legislate a right to work from home which provides that:

(i) all employees have the right to request work from home arrangements for up to two days a week,

(ii) employers are required to positively consider such requests and may only refuse a request if it would make the performance of the inherent requirements of the role seriously impractical or impossible, and

(iii) employers are required to take into account any reasonable adjustments that could be made before refusing the request".