The South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) has urged the Victorian Government to reconsider any move to apply work-from-home legislation to the manufacturing sector, warning it could undermine a $54 billion economic hub that employs more than 283,000 people.
In a LinkedIn post, SEMMA, which represents more than 200 manufacturing businesses in the region, said such a policy would be impractical for an industry that relies on on-site production.
“This proposed policy threatens the viability of the manufacturing sector. It will deter investment and drive away innovation, employment, and economic growth,” SEMMA chief executive Honi Walker said.
Ms Walker said the sector played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic by continuing to produce essential goods such as toilet paper, nappies, milk, bread, and medications.
“We simply cannot make these products from home,” she said. “During the pandemic, we kept Victoria and Australia supplied, continued exporting, maintained careers, and helped keep the state’s economy stable.”
SEMMA argued that the proposed changes would also ignore the realities faced by other essential professions.
SEMMA said the proposed work-from-home policy was impractical and would sideline employees in roles that require physical presence, including nurses, doctors, emergency services, hospitality staff, teachers, childcare and aged care workers, truck drivers, and even petrol station attendants.
“We are simply asking the government to allow private industry to negotiate directly with our employees as we do now. No legislative changes are required – just common sense.”
The organisation also questioned how the Victorian Government could meet its infrastructure supply needs and achieve its Victorian Industry Policy (VIP) targets if manufacturing operations were restricted.
“If this work-from-home policy is enacted and applied to manufacturing – there will not be a manufacturing sector in Victoria,” Walker said. “Like the crippling land tax and exorbitant Workcover Premiums, it’s just another reason for business to relocate and re-invest elsewhere.”
SEMMA is calling on policymakers to align the VIP with its Australian Manufacturing BLUEPRINT – 2025 and Beyond, a strategic plan outlining five pillars – Economic, Energy, Expand, Educate, and Evolve – designed to boost competitiveness, create jobs, and secure sovereign capability.
“We’d like Minister Brooks to align the VIP with SEMMA’s Manufacturing BLUEPRINT so Victoria can unlock manufacturing’s potential, driving economic resilience and higher living standards,” Walker said. “[B]ut we need our policymakers to engage with us, not marginalise our workforce and shackle our businesses.”
