Murrumbidgee Council is set to trial a four-day work week, described by multiple outlets as the first trial of its kind in Australian local government. The council, based in regional New South Wales, plans to implement the trial as an initiative aimed at changing standard working arrangements for staff, with the period and specific operational details expected to be determined as the trial is prepared. Both PerthNow and The West Australian report on the council’s decision to proceed with the trial, framing it as a first for the sector in Australia.
The coverage is consistent in that it identifies the council, highlights the planned four-day work week arrangement, and notes the “first” nature of the trial within local government. However, the articles provided here do not add further specifics such as start date, duration, staffing models, or how services to the public will be affected. The reports therefore focus on the announcement that the trial will occur, rather than on outcomes.
