The Coalition has promised to end the right to disconnect for Federal Public Sector workers. Employment Spokesperson Jane Hume said a Liberal National Government would then remove the right to disconnect from the rest of the Australian labour force.

Introduced last year by the Labor Government under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the right to disconnect protects employees from having to communicate with their workplace after house. There are exemptions in the regulations for issues such as emergencies and rostering.

“The Opposition Leader is telling the voters of Australia he is fine with them being on call 24/7,” said Mr Little, who is also National Secretary of the CPSU State Public Services Federation (SPSF), which represents state Public Sector workers nationwide.

Mr Dutton’s announcement is the latest in a wave of attacks on Public Sector workers that have occurred as the deadline looms for a federal election. He has also demanded an end to working-from-home for Federal Public Sector workers.

Earlier this year, Mr Dutton and National Party Leader David Littleproud told voters they would fire 36,000 Public Sector workers should they assume office. Mr Littleproud said he would do it “on day one’ of their administration.  

“This would see consultants and outsourcers delivering services to the Australian public, at enormous cost,” said Mr Little. “It would be devastating to the dismissed 36,000 workers and their families and an utter disaster for the economy.

“It would affect the budgets for state public sectors, as well.

“We have seen in northern NSW and southeast Queensland how dependent we are on a well-funded, well-staffed Public Sector.”