Australia’s opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has abandoned plans to eliminate work-from-home options for public servants after facing substantial public and political backlash.

On Monday, Dutton, leader of the Liberal-National Coalition, admitted that the coalition had “made a mistake” regarding the policy, for which he apologized.

As the nation prepares for elections on May 3, the coalition’s initial proposal included plans to reduce public sector jobs and enhance efficiency.

Critics, particularly from the ruling Labour government, argued that ending remote work would disproportionately affect women. Dutton clarified that the policy was meant to target only public service employees in Canberra, accusing the Labour Party of distorting this intent in a “smear campaign.”

Shadow finance minister Jane Hume added that the coalition is now committed to maintaining existing flexible working arrangements, stating, “We have listened, and understand that flexible work, including work from home, is part of getting the best out of any workforce.”

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The coalition also provided further details on its proposal to cut 41,000 public service jobs, stating it aims to achieve these reductions over five years through natural attrition and a hiring freeze rather than forced redundancies, which they had previously hinted at.

Dutton’s comments have drawn criticism from the Labor government, with Employment Minister Murray Watt suggesting that the opposition leader’s inconsistent messaging reflects a lack of clarity and leadership.

The popularity of strict return-to-office policies in other countries, such as the US, has highlighted the differing public sentiment in Australia, where cost-of-living concerns remain a top priority for voters.