Peter Dutton (Image: Private Media/Zennie)
A sleepy Peter Dutton (Image: Private Media/Zennie)

In a few months, Australian workers will be able to ignore out-of-work-hours communications from their boss without fearing for their job. Last week, federal Parliament passed the so-called “right to disconnect” law as part of a bundle of industrial relations reforms. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese proclaimed, “Someone who’s not being paid 24 hours a day shouldn’t be penalised if they’re not online and available 24 hours a day.” Australian Unions welcomed the change as potentially saving 79% of Australian workers from doing 280 hours of free work every year. 

Not everyone is happy with these changes. Understandably, there are anxieties, such as about the penalties and the consequences of removing a cushion of unpaid labour from businesses and the economy.

We wanted to give the right to disconnect opponents a chance to make the case themselves. So we contacted them at 4am this morning with a pressing media request to understand why Australian workers — who up until the last decade’s widespread popularisation of work-issued smartphones were largely uncontactable outside of office hours — should be working around the clock. 

Here’s what they said.

Peter Dutton, federal Liberal Party leader and member for Dickson

Previous right to disconnect comments: “If you think it’s OK to outsource your industrial relations or your economic policy to the Greens, which is what the prime minister is doing, then we are going to see a continuation of the productivity problem in our country.” — Sky News Australia, February 11. 

Response to Crikey: “Thank you for your email. If your email is an invitation or meeting request, please be assured it will be attended to in a timely manner. I appreciate your communication and the content will be carefully considered.” — received at 4.06am. Nil since then.

Basil Zempilas, City of Perth mayor and candidate for the Liberal Party’s nomination for the WA district of Churchlands 

Previous right to disconnect comments: “Is this the way to drive our country forward? Is this the spirit with which we built our great nation? Is this the attitude which has meant good people can work hard and get ahead? I think not.” — X, formerly Twitter, February 7.

Response to Crikey: Nil.

Julie Fallon, Woodside Energy’s human resources head

Previous right to disconnect comments: “If sending someone emails out of their working hours isn’t allowed, then that would be a real challenge.” — Australian Financial Review, February 12. 

Response to Crikey: Nil.

Andrew McKellar, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO

Previous right to disconnect comments: “Modern technology has provided flexibility to the workforce and many employees no longer need to sit behind a desk from nine to five, which parents have embraced. By agreement with their employers, they can work flexibly in a way that suits them and their families and maintain a work-life balance.” — media statement, February 7.

Response to Crikey: ACCI media and communications director Ashley Gardiner responded at 6.19am by referring Crikey to the organisation’s previous statements.

Tim Fung, Airtasker CEO 

Previous right to disconnect comments: “It seems crazy to say, at 5.01[pm], don’t ever contact me on Slack, but you can SMS me, but three times a week, and only for these kinds of issues. It’s just gonna get more and more complex than a commonsense kind of discussion.” — Australian Financial Review, February 12. 

Response to Crikey: Nil.