Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has banned white-collar workers from returning to their offices and threatened fines for any boss who ignores the rules.

He has also urged workers to report any boss who prevents them from working at home.

Mr Andrews said that police will be checking offices to make sure employers do not breach the health order which lasts until the end of June. 

The move has infuriated Victorian Liberal MPs who believe his 'heavy-handed' approach is holding back economic recovery.

Mr Andrews has been the strictest premier throughout the COVID-19 crisis, even refusing to re-open schools when federal health officials said it was safe. 

James Newbury, Liberal MP for Brighton, told Daily Mail Australia: 'Victorians have stopped listening to Daniel Andrews because he has been too heavy handed. 

'His approach will lead to a deeper recession in Victoria than other states. Today he has threatened people for daring to question his direction. 

'The threats are disturbing and certainly not the sign of good leadership'. 






Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured in China's Tiananmen Square) has banned white-collar workers from returning to their officers







Mr Andrews said that police will be checking offices to make sure employers do not breach the health order which lasts until the end of June


Some Liberal MPs, Lạc Sơn Đại Phật including Tim Smith, have dubbed Mr Andrews 'Chairman Dan' after he signed his state up to China's Belt and Road Initiative in October without approval from the federal government.

Chinese leaders were known as chairman until 1982 when the word president was used instead. 

Announcing the new policy this morning, Mr Andrews said: 'There will be spot checks and things like that. 

'If we had a business that was essentially ignoring or seeking to ignore the clear advice and the orders... I think a staff member would probably ring up and indicate that they are not comfortable with this.'

From Monday, the obligation for employers to keep their staff working from home will now be included in the Chief Health Officer's directions.

It means businesses could be fined for not enabling staff to continue working from home. 

Mr Andrew said: 'This is an absolute requirement. If you have been working from home, you must continue to work from home. There is no option but to do this.'

Victoria recorded seven new cases of the virus on Thursday, including pupil in Melbourne's northwest whose school has been closed.

Mr Andrews said public transport in the city was 18 per cent full but he wanted this figure down to 15 per cent. 






Victoria has banned people working from home from returning to their offices