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The Australian Greens, a Queensland minor party that are based out of Melbourne for some reason, are this week patting themselves on the back after successfully getting a major election policy legislated.
A law allowing Australians he right to ignore their bosses calls, texts and emails outside of work hours could soon be implemented across the country – after strong campaigning from the Greens and several Independents on the cross bench.
The “right to disconnect” has been included as an amendment in the Federal Government’s Closing Loopholes Bill, with the change designed to protect employees who refuse to take unreasonable work calls or answer emails in their unpaid personal time.
After a disruptive few years that saw non-essential workers blurring the line between work life and home life – after public health measures demanded Australians do their best to begin working remotely – it seems voters want to take back their living rooms.
The Greens are being compared to a ‘busted clock’ by a surprised nation, who find themselves overwhelmingly agreeing with this policy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the vast majority of non-Murdoch media pundits have backed the changes, which have already been rolled out in several European nations overseas.
However, there are some critics.
The new laws have been slammed by former horse racing commentator turned aspiring WA state politician, Basil Zempilas, who says Australia was built off “working hard” and that the laws encouraged Australians too ‘ignore your boss’.
This comment was to be expected from Zempilas, a man who has been parachuted into Western Australian politics by Perth media billionaire Kerry Stokes and an array of other powerful business figures.
But the Greens aren’t backing down on the right to disconnect, with party leader Adam Bandt even going as far as teaming up with his ideological rival Bob Katter MP, who doesn’t really understand why anyone would use a phone after 5pm unless they needed an ambulance.
The new Katter-Greens alliance are now campaigning to cement the workplace ettiquette by loosening Australian firearm laws, in turn forcing employers to respect their employees work/life balance.
“If a boss wants to demand an employee work unpaid after-hours, then a boss should be prepared to have a 357 Smith & Wesson pointed at them” said Bandt during a combined press conference earlier today.
Katter nodded firmly.
“Or, you know, like an SKS or AK-47” interrupted Katter.
“Great for shooting roos too”
