Retailers falling victim to intimidation and violent assaults will be given bold new powers to protect staff under landmark legislation proposed by the Western Australian government. The new bill will empower employers and shopping centre management to ban offenders from stores for up to two years, and offenders breaching the ban could be jailed for up to five years.
It comes as retailers across the country are grappling with a sharp rise in crime, particularly theft, abuse and physical attacks on frontline staff.
Reports of workers being threatened, followed, assaulted and subjected to aggressive behaviour, especially in the years following the pandemic.
Store operators say they’re increasingly targeted by offenders who move between shopping centres and retail precincts with little consequence, leaving staff feeling unsafe and businesses bearing the cost.
Major retailers, including Bunnings, have long been sounding the alarm about the level of theft and threatening behaviour faced by their staff.
Security, risk and communications expert Scott Taylor told Yahoo News that offenders were becoming “directly more brazen”, with the rise in aggression seen across the retail, education and healthcare sectors.
Every year in the lead-up to Christmas, retail crime spikes for two reasons, according to Scott.
“One, because it’s that time of the year when they can’t meet their social goals or provide for their family. So theft spikes because they want to get more money for things,” he said.
“At the same time, you’ve got additional cost-of-living pressure.”
Violence and aggression towards retail workers is on the rise, experts say, with offenders getting more brazen. Source: Bunnings/Kmart/Supplied
What will the law change do for Western Australian retailers?
The government’s Retail Barring Orders (RBO) Bill 2025 is designed to give retailers more authority to intervene early and prevent high-risk individuals from re-entering their premises before incidents escalate.
The Bill, which is set to go before parliament before it can become law, would allow employers, shopping centre operators and unions to seek court orders banning violent or threatening individuals from entering shops or retail precincts.
Under the proposed laws, a Retail Barring Order could prohibit an adult from accessing a store for up to two years, or a child for up to one year.
There are, however, safeguards to ensure people subjected to an RBO still have access to groceries and essential services, the WA government said.
Anyone who repeatedly or seriously breaches an RBO would face penalties of up to five years in prison.
Police Minister Reece Whitby warned would-be offenders that police would be nearby and ready to act when called.
“By banning violent offenders from retail spaces where they pose a risk, we’re giving WA Police a significant tool to prevent violence before it happens to keep the community safe,” he said.
“Our government and WA Police is committed to tackling retail crime, so this legislation sends a clear message to anyone intimidating or causing fear to retail workers and shoppers in Western Australia.”
Retail crime has surged in the last two years. Source: 7News/Bunnings
Victoria eyes a similar move
Earlier this month, the Victorian government also announced it would introduce a bill to crack down on abuse facing retail and hospitality workers following a spate of violent attacks across the state.
Over the past 12 months in Australia, one in three instances had occurred in Victoria.
Research from the Australian Retail Association found 79 per cent of Victorians were concerned about increasing crime rates, compared to 66 per cent in other states.
In the span of 12 months, Bunnings and Kmart parent company, Wesfarmers, reported 13,500 instances of customers threatening retail staff with violence or abuse.
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