Aggressive and abusive shoppers could soon be banned from stores or slapped with a $5,500 fine under new laws designed to protect retail workers amid the rise of violent behaviour.
The NSW Government has tabled legislation that allows courts to issue workplace protection orders against repeat offenders, with breaches of the protection order carrying up to two years in jail or a hefty fine.
Major operators like Woolworths and Coles have long called for stricter penalties and more government action, with violent behaviour taking place daily in different stores.
Coles staff in Victoria have been subject to an 85 per cent rise in verbal and physical attacks over just two years, while Woolworths in Victoria saw 1,400 violent incidents reported in NSW alone in 2025.
Bunnings bosses have also called out the ongoing bad behaviour, after also reporting an increase in customer theft and threatening behaviour.
Not only are employees facing verbal abuse, physical violence is just as common.
In one example, a 55-year-old worker had a glass jar smashed over his head at Woolworths in Goonellabah, northern NSW.
Bernie Smith, secretary of the NSW branch of the Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, said the incidents were “completely unacceptable”.
The new laws aim to push back on the violence and it will be implemented within the next 12 months.
“For too long, workers have been told the customer is always right, but there is no excuse for abuse, and that’s why we’re cracking down on this appalling behaviour,” Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said.
“We have zero tolerance for threats, intimidation and violence towards any workers, and these tough new laws will stop abusive customers from entering stores and contacting staff.”
Image: Woolworths
