Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Comments
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
Retail unions and regulators call for tougher security laws
ABC NEWS (Australia)
Follow
5/2/2025
Major supermarkets are beefing up security as retailers report an escalation of violence against workers. There is a push for courts across Australia to be given new powers to ban repeat offenders from shops.
Category
📺
TV
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
Kick to the floor and chase down the aisle.
00:04
This is merely a glimpse of the violence retail workers endure.
00:09
Our members have cans of food thrown at them, hot chickens thrown back at them.
00:12
In 2023, New South Wales brought in harsher penalties for assaults against shop workers.
00:18
But the state's workplace health and safety regulator is still concerned about the level of aggression.
00:22
Nearly 9 out of 10 retail workers are reporting occasions where they've been experiencing verbal abuse.
00:30
Or violence in the workplace.
00:32
Sometimes the violence is fatal.
00:34
Last week a Darwin supermarket owner was killed in a stabbing attack.
00:38
The next time you're in a shop and you feel a bit frustrated, take a deep breath.
00:42
Coles and Woolworths have boosted the number of guards,
00:44
equipped workers with body-worn cameras and increased surveillance.
00:48
What we've had to do over the last 12 months or so is we've had record investment.
00:51
The union is pushing for something called a workplace protection order
00:55
to be introduced in every state and territory.
00:57
It's like a restraining order, but instead of being taken out by an individual,
01:02
a business can apply for one against a customer.
01:04
We've seen them, we used a good effect down in the ACT.
01:07
You go to the magistrate's court, once the interim order is issued, people are banned from A-Store.
01:12
South Australia's proposed similar orders and now New South Wales is considering it.
01:16
We're looking at and definitely it's a very good idea.
01:20
Not everyone's buying it.
01:21
People who are having a mental health crisis might be prevented when they're well
01:26
from accessing the only supermarket or shopping centre in their region.
01:29
As reform is debated, workers are pleading for...
01:32
...
01:33
...
01:37
...
01:41
...
01:42
...
01:43
...
01:44
...
01:45
...
Recommended
1:32
|
Up next
NSW nurses and midwives rally against cuts to maternity workforce
ABC NEWS (Australia)
today
1:35
Residents and visitors prepare for firework display between 6pm-11pm
ABC NEWS (Australia)
today
1:44
Woolworths workers strike as Australian supermarket giants are facing increased pressure over their treatment of suppliers
ABC NEWS (Australia)
11/22/2024
1:00
Shoplifting hotspots identified as cases rise by 25% in twelve months
National World - LocalTV
9/26/2023
1:53
Abusive shoppers paying the price of assaults on staff
Australian Community Media
5/1/2025
2:12
Supermarket seeks Fair Work orders to clear Melbourne picket line
ABC NEWS (Australia)
12/3/2024
2:13
Small business owners hope police portal will stop ‘daily’ shoplifting and abuse
ABC NEWS (Australia)
5/18/2025
2:00
“No one should go to work fearing for their safety”: The cost of shoplifting
National World - LocalTV
9/24/2024
1:14
Shopkeeper confronts shoplifters and makes 50 citizen's arrests in two years
SWNS
12/21/2024
1:15
New penalties for supermarkets found to be treating suppliers unfairly
Australian Community Media
6/24/2024
1:00
Shoplifting Hitting Target Hard
Stringr
5/22/2023
2:00
AI in Supermarkets: Is it good for the retail industry?
Local TV
1/28/2025
0:40
SF Bay Area's Shoplifting Surge
Benzinga
6/26/2023
2:04
Sale of machetes outlawed across Victoria after violent gang fights
ABC NEWS (Australia)
5/28/2025
1:37
Police open new front against shoplifters in Mansfield
Mansfield Chad
8/26/2022
3:37
Hundreds of Coles, Woolworths employees to walk off the job
Allo Trends World
10/6/2023
1:44
Shop owner Surinder Josan talks about the impact of shoplifting
Express & Star
9/18/2024
1:28
New rule for energy retailers to protect victims of domestic violence
ABC NEWS (Australia)
9/15/2022
1:00
People on the street: Should shoplifters be given sympathy or stricter punishments?
National World - LocalTV
9/24/2024
3:05
'This is a game changer' - new DNA spray to catch shoplifters
National World - LocalTV
3/7/2024
3:06
Supermarket files urgent application with Fair Work Commission
ABC NEWS (Australia)
12/4/2024
3:25
Woolworths seeks Fair Work orders to clear Melbourne picket line
ABC NEWS (Australia)
12/3/2024
0:55
“Dodgy” supermarkets could face fines of $10 million under new crackdown
Australian Community Media
11/27/2024
0:59
Aussie breakdancers aim for international return to glory
Australian Community Media
today
1:23
Crazy Aussie car laws: is it illegal to warm up your car in the driveway?
Australian Community Media
today