Monbulk Member, 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.
“Retail, hospitality and transport workers keep our communities running – and they deserve respect and safety at work. These laws make it clear: harming a worker is never acceptable, and there will be serious consequences,” she said.
“As a former retail and hospitality worker, owner of retail and hospitality businesses and former Union Official for the retail, fast food and industry union – the SDA – I’ve experienced and witnessed some terrible behaviour from customers. No worker deserves to be subjected to violence and aggression at work.”
“I want to thank the incredible team at Woolworths Monbulk and all our retail, hospitality and transport workers for everything they do to serve our community – especially at this time of year when they’re working flat out to help local families. Let’s make sure we treat the people who serve us every day with respect and kindness.”
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.
The Monbulk Member also highlighted 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.
Under the reforms:
Assaulting or threatening a retail, hospitality or transport worker will carry a penalty of up to five years in jail.
New summary offences for 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.
Victoria will press ahead with Workplace Protection Orders to ban violent individuals from entire workplaces.
These changes respond to alarming statistics:
800,000 retail crime incidents were reported nationally last year.
Almost nine in 10 retail workers have experienced verbal abuse.
More than half of transport gig workers report threatening or abusive behaviour.
The State Government introduced the Bill to Parliament earlier in December, and it has now passed – delivering stronger protections for workers across Victoria ahead of the busy holiday season.
