On the 13th of July 2023 the NSW Government passed new legislation under the Crimes Legislation Amendment (assaults on retail workers) Bill 2023.
The Bill amended the NSW Crimes Act 1900 to create specific, tougher penalties for assaulting, harassing or intimidating retail workers while they are on duty.
This included penalties for assault/stalk/harass/intimidate up to 4 years imprisonment. (even if no bodily harm is caused).
For assault occasioning actual bodily harm, the penalty is up to 6 years imprisonment.
For wounding/grievous bodily harm the penalty is up to 11 years imprisonment.
Further action was taken in October 2025 with the launch of the new Retail Crime Strategy, which includes initiatives like “Place Restriction Orders” to ban repeat offenders from retail premises.
The USU applauds the NSW Government and in particular the NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon Sophie Cotsis for acting decisively to protect retail workers.
We all see examples every day on the news but in your own workplaces workers may also have been the victims of or witnesses to threatening and abusive behaviour up to and including physical assault from members of the public while performing your job.
This behaviour seems to be on the increase for various reasons which may include but not be limited to drugs and alcohol (note: some drugs such as ice often cause aggressive behaviour), mental health, homelessness or just plain criminal intent.
NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon Sophie Cotsis with USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly OAM
While front line workers are often targeted due to easy public access while performing their duties, even those who work in buildings and offices are increasingly becoming targets. Threats are also often made by phone calls and e mails.
The USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly OAM accompanied by USU Manager Stephen Hughes and Daniel Papps met with the Minister in her office on December 3rd to advise her of the launch of our campaign to seek feedback from our over 30,000 USU members as to any abusive behaviour they allege to have suffered or witnessed while performing their duties.
We will be gathering this evidence to support our campaign to extend the protections to our Local Government members and to the other NSW based Industries and workplaces where we have members.
A further face to face meeting with the Minister and her office is scheduled for 2pm on Tuesday the 14th of April 2026.
At this meeting we will be providing the Minister and her office with the feedback received thus far with 700 responses from our members across the State who have either been the victims or witnesses to the same types of behaviour that Retail Workers have been provided better protections from.
While the amount of feedback and detail received thus far from members is great, it is also very concerning as to the high level of allegations received.
We look forward to achieving the same protections for all of our members when performing their duties.
HAVE YOUR SAY!
Surveys can be accessed to complete HERE or by contacting the USU.
Stephen Hughes
USU Manager North
