Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino has thanked local retail workers for their hard work and reminded the community to treat customer-facing staff with respect – especially during the busy holiday season.
Ms De Martino visited Woolworths in Monbulk recently to speak with staff about new laws aimed at protecting workers from abuse and violence.
These reforms follow the passing of the Crimes Amendment (Retail, Fast Food, Hospitality and Transport Worker Harm) Bill 2025 in Parliament last week.
Speaking on the Bill in Parliament, Ms De Martino emphasised that no one should go to work fearing abuse or violence.
She spoke about the vital role retail and hospitality workers play in local communities and said these reforms send a clear message that harming a worker will not be tolerated.
Ms De Martino also highlighted that the new laws give police stronger powers to act when abuse or intimidation occurs, ensuring workplaces are safer for everyone.
The Bill delivers tough new offences to crack down on crimes against workers in retail, hospitality and transport -making workplaces safer for everyone.
The reforms will mean a penalty of up to five years in jail for assaulting or threatening retail, hospitality or transport workers.
The introduced legislation also regulated that the intimidation and lower-level assaults will carry penalties of up to six months in jail.
Ram raids will now be recognised as aggravated burglary, with a maximum penalty of 25 years and subject to Adult Time for Violent Crime.
The legislative changes respond to a series of statistics pertaining to retail workers.
Statistics found that 800,000 retail crime incidents were reported nationally last year, and that almost nine in ten retail workers have experienced verbal abuse.
