Tougher penalties for assaulting retail workers

People who assault retail workers will face tougher penalties under new laws which passed both houses of Parliament this week.

The bill creates three new offences in the Crimes Act 1900. It is now an offence to:

• Assault, throw a missile at, stalk, harass or intimidate a retail worker in the course of the worker’s duty, even if no actual bodily harm is caused to the worker, with a maximum penalty of 4 years’ imprisonment.
• Assault a retail worker in the course of the worker’s duty and cause actual bodily harm to the worker, with a maximum penalty of 6 years’ imprisonment.
• Wound or cause grievous bodily harm to a retail worker in the course of the worker’s duty, being reckless as to causing actual bodily harm to the worker or another person, with a maximum penalty of 11 years’ imprisonment.

Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra said there had been a “frightening” escalation in retail crime.

“With this new legislation we are sending a strong message that this behaviour won’t be tolerated.” Mr Zahra said.