By Tom Wark
With retail crime a growing problem, thousands of workers may soon have greater protection from harassment and abuse while on the job.
Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs) are being modelled in NSW to exclude anti-social customers from shops in an effort to protect staff and prevent theft and violence.
Repeat serious offenders are an increasing problem for retailers and workers alike, with 525 people charged in the state since October for offences committed at shops.
WPOs are designed to prevent an offender from threatening or being violent towards a retail worker.
It can include a court order banning them from a premises.
“No one deserves to be harassed, intimidated or abused simply for doing their job,” Attorney-General Michael Daley said.
“We are determined to further stamp out this despicable behaviour.”
The proposal to implement WPOs has sparked a rare unity among unions and businesses.
A similar measure enacted in the ACT has led to a 23 per cent reduction in violent retail incidents, the head of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association said.
“These banning orders send a simple message … treat retail workers with respect or face the consequences,” NSW SDA Secretary Bernie Smith said.
“We call on the community to support these changes and support retail workers.”
The ability to better crack down on repeat offenders is especially important for retailers, with growing evidence a small cohort is doing disproportionate damage.
“Around 10 per cent of offenders are responsible for roughly 60 per cent of the harm experienced by retailers,” Australian Retailers Council chief executive Chris Rodwell said.
“Workplace Protection Orders are the key missing piece. They provide a clear legal mechanism to prevent known offenders from returning to stores where they’ve caused harm.”
NSW created three new offences for harassing, stalking or assaulting a retail worker in 2023 carrying maximum penalties of 11 years imprisonment.
The state government says it will work on a model for WPOs with unions, police and retailers in coming months with reforms to be introduced later in 2026.
South Australia introduced a WPO model to its parliament in October based on the approach taken in the ACT.
Federal parliament passed a similar scheme to protect Commonwealth workers from violence and harassment in November.