文章详述了日益加剧的商界忧虑，以及其他地方更广泛的返办公室推动。Committee for Melbourne 的 Scott Veenker 表示，这项提案增加了复杂性，可能促使企业重新考虑在维多利亚州营运，而房东和小企业则担心 CBD 空间与服务需求减弱。墨尔本接近20%的办公室空置率已是各首府中最差，Committee for Melbourne 表示，其合作的公司中约60%认为在维多利亚州经营比在其他地方更困难。相较之下，HSBC 已要求香港面向客户的员工每周5天到办公室或与客户会面，JPMorgan Chase & Co. 也要求每周5天出勤，UBS Group AG 则让美国初级银行家每周5天回到办公室；即使在澳洲境内，ANZ 也要求高层领导每周5天到岗，其他员工至少每周2到3天，凸显维多利亚州拟议命令的罕见。
经济利害关系十分广泛：维多利亚州的 GDP 只略低于澳洲的1/4，但其2月失业率为4.7%，高于全国的4.3%，而截至2025年6月30日的财政年度，州生产总值仅增长1.1%，低于澳洲1.9%的 GDP 增长。由于基础设施支出超支，该州净负债约为A$161 billion（$114 billion），为全国最高，分析师警告，较弱的商业投资可能使财政前景恶化。Allan 也正面临11月选举，2月民调显示，自12月以来工党支持率下滑6%，而 One Nation 上升24%；她或许希望这项政策能帮助面临生活成本压力的家庭，包括全州平均每天A$136、而市中心内城地区最高可达A$180的托儿费，但批评者认为，这部法律可能加速企业外流，并让墨尔本 CBD 留下更多空置的建筑和商店。
Melbourne is set to become the first major city-region to enshrine a legal right to work from home 2 days a week for eligible workers from September, a move backed by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan but strongly opposed by business groups. The policy lands in a city still recovering from some of the world’s longest and strictest Covid-era lockdowns, with office life slow to rebound and CBD foot traffic well below pre-pandemic norms. Melbourne, home to major employers such as BHP Group Ltd., Rio Tinto Ltd., National Australia Bank Ltd., and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd., has the highest office vacancy rate among Australia’s capital cities, while local cafes, gyms, and service businesses say the change will deepen the damage to city-center activity.
The article details mounting business concerns and a broader return-to-office push elsewhere. Scott Veenker of the Committee for Melbourne said the proposal adds complexity and could prompt firms to reconsider operating in Victoria, while landlords and small businesses fear weaker demand for CBD space and services. Nearly 20% office vacancy in Melbourne is already the worst among the capitals, and the Committee for Melbourne says around 60% of the companies it works with find Victoria harder to operate in than other places. By contrast, HSBC has told Hong Kong customer-facing staff to be in the office or with clients 5 days a week, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has required 5-day attendance, and UBS Group AG has brought US junior bankers back 5 days a week; even within Australia, ANZ expects senior leaders in 5 days and other staff at least 2 to 3 days, highlighting how unusual Victoria’s proposed mandate is.
The economic stakes are broad: Victoria produces just under 1/4 of Australia’s GDP, yet its unemployment rate was 4.7% in February versus the national 4.3%, and gross state product rose only 1.1% in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, below Australia’s 1.9% GDP growth. The state’s net debt is about A$161 billion ($114 billion), the highest in the country, after infrastructure spending overruns, and analysts warn weaker business investment could worsen the fiscal outlook. Allan is also facing a November election, with a February poll showing Labor’s vote down 6% since December while One Nation surged 24%; she may hope the policy helps families facing cost pressures, including childcare averaging A$136 a day statewide and up to A$180 in inner-city areas, but critics argue the law could accelerate business flight and leave Melbourne’s CBD with even more empty buildings and shops.