Australia's retail bodies back Queensland’s tougher work safety legislation

The new legislation stipulates stronger penalties for workplace assaults.

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) have expressed their approval of the Queensland government's newly introduced Respect at Work legislation, which aims to enhance protections for individuals subjected to workplace assaults and promote safer and more inclusive work environments.

The new legislation stipulates stronger penalties for workplace assaults, including those occurring in retail settings. 

“This has been an important area of advocacy and we welcome QLD’s commitment to workplace safety that will see harsher penalties for offenders who assault people at work,” said ARA CEO Paul Zahra.

“No one should go to work fearing for their safety, but unfortunately this is the reality for many retail workers,” he added.

Zahra also urged for more specific penalties targeting abusive or aggressive behavior towards retail workers, similar to the frameworks established in New South Wales (NSW), South Australia (SA), and Western Australia (WA).

NRA Interim CEO Lindsay Carroll noted that Queensland's legislation is in line with the Northern Territory’s recent reforms but urged Queensland to match the harsher penalties seen in other states.

“NSW, SA and WA have set the benchmark by adding harsher penalties for offenders committing violence against retail workers specifically. We would like QLD to follow this model,” she said.