The City of Launceston council in Tasmania has reached a provisional agreement to implement a revolutionary four-day work week for its employees while maintaining their full five-day salaries. This groundbreaking decision positions the council to become Australia’s first governmental body to adopt such a measure if approved through upcoming employee voting procedures.
Approximately 600 eligible full-time municipal workers will participate in a decisive ballot next month to determine the fate of this pioneering enterprise agreement. Chief Executive Sam Johnson characterized the proposal as a bold advancement in contemporary workplace transformation, emphasizing its focus on employee welfare, productivity enhancement, and sustainable public service operations.
The council administration has framed this initiative as potentially ‘game-changing’ for Australian labor standards, drawing parallels to the nation’s historic introduction of annual leave provisions a century ago. Johnson emphasized that the shortened workweek with maintained compensation would yield substantial benefits for both municipal staff and community service delivery.
However, the proposal has encountered significant opposition from business representatives. Tasmania Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey expressed profound concerns regarding the economic implications, characterizing the arrangement as essentially a 20% reduction in working hours without corresponding salary adjustment. Bailey warned that taxpayers and local enterprises would ultimately bear the financial burden through increased rates and fees, potentially resulting in diminished service capacity for processing permits, approvals, and planning applications.
Contrasting this perspective, Australian Services Union Tasmanian branch secretary Tash Wark reported strong membership support for the proposal, viewing it as a constructive approach to addressing recruitment and retention difficulties in the public sector. Should the agreement receive employee endorsement, it will advance to the Fair Work Commission for official ratification, with potential implementation scheduled for July 2026.