Tom Elliott calls on the Premier to think of the ‘greater good’ in Melbourne’s struggling CBD

Tom Elliott says Daniel Andrew is condemning Melbourne’s CBD to ongoing pain if the government does not force Victoria’s public sector back to the office full-time.

The Victorian government remains committed to “flexible” working options that allow staff to work from home when they wish, despite Victoria now hitting its COVID-19 vaccination targets.

Melbourne’s CBD is yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels and Tom Elliott says it won’t unless the public sector returns to the city.

“If the Premier seriously wants the city of Melbourne, and I mean the CBD, to recover, then he’s got to tell the public servants sorry, I know a lot of you would like to work from home, but you can’t,” the 3AW Drive host said on Monday.

“There is a greater good that has to be served here and that is to get the CBD going again.

“Think about it.

“Public servants are generously paid, they don’t have particularly onerous working hours or conditions and if they’re working from the office every day they’ll go get coffees, get snacks and probably go out for lunch, that sort of thing.

“It is all part of the economic engine of the City of Melbourne.

“Unfortunately, the state government doesn’t see it that way.”

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