Retail unions and regulators call for tougher security laws

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Major supermarkets are beefing up security as retailers report an escalation of violence against workers. There is a push for courts across Australia to be given new powers to ban repeat offenders from shops.

Transcript

00:00Kick to the floor and chase down the aisle.

00:04This is merely a glimpse of the violence retail workers endure.

00:09Our members have cans of food thrown at them, hot chickens thrown back at them.

00:12In 2023, New South Wales brought in harsher penalties for assaults against shop workers.

00:18But the state's workplace health and safety regulator is still concerned about the level of aggression.

00:22Nearly 9 out of 10 retail workers are reporting occasions where they've been experiencing verbal abuse.

00:30Or violence in the workplace.

00:32Sometimes the violence is fatal.

00:34Last week a Darwin supermarket owner was killed in a stabbing attack.

00:38The next time you're in a shop and you feel a bit frustrated, take a deep breath.

00:42Coles and Woolworths have boosted the number of guards,

00:44equipped workers with body-worn cameras and increased surveillance.

00:48What we've had to do over the last 12 months or so is we've had record investment.

00:51The union is pushing for something called a workplace protection order

00:55to be introduced in every state and territory.

00:57It's like a restraining order, but instead of being taken out by an individual,

01:02a business can apply for one against a customer.

01:04We've seen them, we used a good effect down in the ACT.

01:07You go to the magistrate's court, once the interim order is issued, people are banned from A-Store.

01:12South Australia's proposed similar orders and now New South Wales is considering it.

01:16We're looking at and definitely it's a very good idea.

01:20Not everyone's buying it.

01:21People who are having a mental health crisis might be prevented when they're well

01:26from accessing the only supermarket or shopping centre in their region.

01:29As reform is debated, workers are pleading for...

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