VIC - Tough New Retail Crime Laws Pass Parliament

Abusing shop assistants, assaulting retail workers and security staff, threatening rideshare drivers and even throwing coffee at waiters will now mean serious consequences under new laws passed by the Victorian Government. The Crimes Amendment (Retail, Fast Food, Hospitality and Transport Worker Harm) Act 2025 creates new offences to crack down on abuse, threats and assaults against customer-facing workers - from retail and hospitality staff to security, cleaners, delivery riders, taxi and rideshare drivers, public transport operators and even contractors working on-site. The laws which will be in place ahead of the busy Christmas season, include a serious new indictable offence will apply to anyone who assaults or threatens to assault a retail, fast food, hospitality or transport worker. Those charged face up to five years’ imprisonment under this offence.

Separate summary offences will also apply for lower-level assaults and threatening or intimidating conduct – including profane, obscene or insulting language – with penalties of up to six months’ jail. These offences have a lower threshold to give police a flexible range of options to intervene early and protect workers.

ASIAL has long advocated for greater protection of frontline security personnel and has welcomed the announcement.