Sydney, April 8, 2025 – Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has defended Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's decision to reverse a controversial policy targeting work-from-home arrangements for Canberra-based public servants, describing it as a sign of strong and responsive leadership.
Speaking with Chris Kenny on Sky News, Paterson acknowledged that the Coalition’s initial stance was aimed at boosting productivity among federal public servants, but said the policy had been misrepresented by Labor in what he labelled a “baseless scare campaign.”
“The truth is, Chris, that politicians and political parties don’t always get it right,” Paterson said. “You can persist... or you can own up, take responsibility, and change course. That’s what Peter Dutton has done, and I think that reflects very well on him.”
The now-shelved policy would have mandated that public servants return to their Canberra offices full-time. Paterson insisted the policy was never intended to impact private sector workers or those outside the capital, pushing back against claims made by Labor.
“This can be managed sensibly by management within the departments on a case-by-case basis,” he said, suggesting that hybrid and flexible work models remain a practical option for government employees.
The Coalition’s policy shift comes as global markets react to sweeping new tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, leading to sharp market downturns and fears of a potential global recession. Paterson said the economic upheaval raises the stakes of the upcoming federal election.
“We already knew that we were in an uncertain strategic environment, but we’re now in a very uncertain economic climate,” he said. “The question Australians will have to answer is: who do they trust to help navigate this?”
He touted Peter Dutton’s economic and national security credentials, drawing comparisons to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whom he accused of being "weak and not across the details" on key foreign policy and defence matters.
The interview also turned to national security, specifically the contentious lease of the Port of Darwin to Chinese-owned Landbridge Group. The Albanese government recently announced plans to reclaim oversight of the port — a move long championed by the Coalition.
Paterson criticised the Prime Minister’s handling of the announcement, calling his explanations “incoherent” and politically motivated.
“This is about the national interest. We’ve said very clearly that it was a mistake for this lease to have been entered into... and we’re going to fix that mistake,” he said, reiterating the Coalition’s commitment to return the port to an Australian Government-approved operator.
With early voting just two weeks away, the Coalition is seeking to sharpen its contrast with Labor on economic management, national security, and government accountability — despite internal challenges and policy reversals.
