Overview
- The bill creates a new indictable offence carrying up to five years in prison for assaulting or threatening workers in retail, hospitality, delivery and transport, including back‑of‑house staff.
- Lower‑level threatening or intimidating behaviour, including verbal abuse, would attract summary offences with penalties of up to six months’ jail.
- Ram‑raids would be reclassified as aggravated burglary with a maximum sentence of 25 years, with a separate, not‑yet‑drafted reform flagged to send accused aged 14 and over to adult courts.
- Workplace protection orders covering entire businesses will be developed through further consultation after the bill is introduced to parliament on Friday.
- Unions and major retailers welcomed the measures and urged rapid enforcement as data show retail thefts rose nearly 42% in the year to June 30 and Woolworths reports over 40% of its incidents occur in Victoria.