Victoria workplace protection laws face retail sector criticism

The Victorian Parliament has passed new workplace protection order laws, but the retail sector has criticized the legislation for failing to include interim orders. The Australian Retail Council (ARC) expressed concern that the absence of these orders leaves frontline workers vulnerable to violence, threats, and abuse from repeat offenders while courts process final protection orders.

According to Crime Statistics Agency data, 4,823 assault and related offenses were recorded at retail locations in the year leading up to March. Additionally, stalking, harassment, and threatening behavior increased by 10.1 percent. Data from Auror indicates Victoria records approximately 100 violent retail crime incidents daily, accounting for more than one-third of the national total.

Retailers including Coles and Woolworths have advocated for interim measures, citing models in South Australia and the ACT that allow for quicker judicial action. The Victorian Government maintains that interim orders are unnecessary, arguing that the threshold for granting final barring orders has been lowered to provide sufficient protection.