Queensland government workers will be given the opportunity to work closer to home as part of a Palaszczuk Government plan to rebalance public service roles in a post-COVID world.
Treasurer Cameron Dick said the plan would give up to 1,500 workers the chance to work in an office much closer to their community.
“Through the necessary restrictions put in place to halt the spread of COVID, many thousands of Queenslanders have spent months working from home,” the Treasurer said.
Now, as restrictions ease and we Unite and Recover for Queensland jobs, we have an opportunity to take a fresh look at the way we work.
“Safe Work Australia advice is that offices provide four square metres per person and physical distancing of 1.5 metres, which will reduce the capacity of many office work spaces.
“We’re also aware of the risks posed by crowded public transport.
“In that environment, the Palaszczuk Government is expanding the role of our Distributed Work Centres, government office spaces which allow workers to be based at Ipswich, Logan, Robina or Maroochydore instead of the Brisbane CBD.
“Working closer to home means more time spent with your family and less time commuting.
“In addition, the savings measures I am announcing today will prevent public service positions being reallocated into the Brisbane CBD from regional or outer urban areas.
Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said the Distributed Work Centres provided an ideal solution to one of the many challenges posed by doing business in a post-COVID world.
“In the last few months, Queenslanders have done a great job in following the health advice, innovating and adapting in the way they work,” Minister de Brenni said.
“Because we’ve managed the health response so well, more workers are able to get back to a more conventional workplace.
“But there’s no reason that workplace should be further from home than necessary.
“For residents of the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Logan, Distributed Work Centres provide the opportunity to do the same job, but much closer to home.
“Less crowded offices and public transport improves community safety while increasing the amount of time Queenslanders can spend with family, also providing more customers of businesses near the Distributed Work Centres.
