Australian retailers push for stronger worker protections

In Victoria, nearly 19,000 violent incidents were reported in the past year.

The Retail Employee Safety Council (RESC) is calling for stricter legislation to protect retail workers in Australia from rising levels of abuse, assault, and harassment.

The council highlighted efforts in November to combat retail crime, including the continuation of the "No One Deserves a Serve" campaign, better training, and improved data collection to enhance employee safety.

The RESC also acknowledged recent legislative wins, such as new laws in Western Australia, which now impose up to seven years in prison for those who abuse retail workers.

South Australia is also moving forward with Workplace Protection Orders, allowing businesses to prevent high-risk offenders from entering stores.

However, the council expressed concern over states where legislation is still lacking, particularly in Victoria. Despite committed legislation, incidents in Victoria have risen sharply, with nearly 19,000 serious incidents reported over the past year.

“When it comes to serious events, Victoria has the highest number of incidents at almost 19,000 in the last 12 months,” said Fleur Brown, chief industry affairs officer of Australian Retailers Association.

“We are calling on the Allan Government to introduce legislation that includes tougher penalties for people who abuse or assault retail workers, bringing laws closer to what is in place in other states, to reduce harm to retail workers,” she added.