Peter Dutton has been forced into a costly backflip that shows he has deeper problems in this election campaign than his approach to working from home.

The opposition leader has made a necessary decision to stage a big policy shift so he can assure Australians – especially women – that he will not force them back to the office.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his public service spokeswoman, Jane Hume.Credit:

The backflip is ungainly and has an air of desperation at a fairly early stage of the campaign. The move is a big admission that Labor is winning the argument by painting Dutton as someone who will side with the bosses in his derision for those who work at home.

There are three challenges for Dutton in landing on his feet after spinning in the air.

The first is to convince voters that he means it when he says he supports working from home. In truth, Dutton never said he wanted every worker to return to the office. But he and others used strong language about curbing the practice in the public service and this tough talk backfired. Labor was very successful at making it sound........

© WA Today