The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) have welcomed the passing of Workplace Protection Order (WPO) legislation in the South Australian Parliament - a landmark moment for retail worker safety and a major step forward in the national fight against retail crime.
ARA CEO Chris Rodwell said the passage of the laws represents a decisive move to protect retail workers from the escalating violence, abuse and repeat offending occurring across the sector.
"This is a historic day for retail safety in South Australia. Retail workers are exposed to abuse, threats and assaults at levels that are simply unacceptable - with a serious or violent incident occurring every five minutes across the country," Mr Rodwell said. "By passing Workplace Protection Orders, South Australia has delivered one of the strongest tools available to keep repeat and high-harm offenders out of stores and shopping centres. It's a game-changing reform that will make a real difference on the ground."
WPOs allow police and courts to ban violent, abusive or repeat offenders from re-entering retail stores and shopping centres for 12 months or more. Breaching a WPO can result in up to five years' imprisonment, bringing the consequences for retail-related offending more in line with community expectations.
Mr Rodwell said the new laws directly target the small cohort of individuals responsible for the majority of retail crime incidents.
"Research shows that 10% of offenders commit around 60% of retail crime. These laws go straight to the heart of the problem by removing repeat offenders from our retail precincts, giving workers the confidence they deserve and restoring safety for customers."
South Australia now joins the ACT as the first two jurisdictions in Australia to formally legislate Workplace Protection Orders - positioning the state as a national leader in evidence-based responses to retail crime.
The ARA and NRA also acknowledge the strong foundational work already underway in South Australia through Operation Measure, which focuses on high-harm, repeat offenders and is already disrupting organised criminal activity in retail settings.
"South Australia has continually set the standard and were the first state to introduce tougher penalties for retail crime. This is the type of clear, decisive action that retailers across Australia have been calling for. We hope today's passage of legislation encourages other states and territories to follow suit without delay," he said.
The ARA and NRA continue to advocate for harmonised national retail crime laws, tougher penalties for assaults and abuse directed at retail workers, dedicated retail crime taskforces and greater use of technology and digital reporting platforms to improve police intelligence and reduce the burden on staff.
"With more than 1.4 million Australians working in retail - many of them young people and women - this legislation will help ensure they can serve their communities safely," Mr Rodwell said.
