WA delivers critical new protections for retail workers

The Australian Retail Council (ARC) has welcomed the passage of Western Australia’s Retail Barring Orders legislation, describing it as a major step forward in protecting retail workers from violent and repeat offenders. 

The new laws will allow courts to prohibit offenders who pose an ongoing risk from entering retail premises, giving retailers and workers an important preventative tool against repeat violence, threats and harassment. 

ARC CEO Chris Rodwell congratulated the WA Government and Parliament for delivering the reforms. 

“This is a significant win for retail worker safety across Western Australia and we congratulate the Government and all sides of Parliament for getting these important protections in place,” Mr Rodwell said. 

“Retail workers should be able to go to work without being abused, threatened or assaulted. These laws provide an effective way to stop known offenders returning to stores and putting workers and customers at further risk. 

“We know there is a cohort of repeat offenders who cause most of the traumatic incidents in stores, shopping centres and supermarkets. Retail Barring Orders give retailers and the courts a mechanism to intervene before the same or another worker is threatened or assaulted.” 

Figures provided to WA Parliament show 679 people had been charged with assaulting a retail worker since the specific offence came into effect in July 2024. 

Separate WA Police figures provided to Parliament identified more than 1,100 repeat retail-theft offenders who had already been processed for at least two retail-theft offences in the preceding 12 months. 

Mr Rodwell said the inclusion of interim barring orders was particularly important, providing protection while applications for longer-term orders are considered. 

“Interim orders are a critical part of an effective scheme. Retail workers should not remain exposed to someone who poses an ongoing risk while they wait for the full court process to run its course,” Mr Rodwell said. 

“We congratulate the WA Government for listening to the concerns of retailers and workers and delivering these reforms. Retailers stand ready to work with the Government, WA Police and the courts to ensure these protections are implemented effectively and brought into operation as soon as possible. 

“Retail workers deserve the same protections regardless of which state or territory they work in. We want workplace protection order laws, including interim orders, to become the national standard across Australia.”